[The cardiovascular system in pre-eclampsia. Pathophysiology and sequelae to be treated].

Physiologic alterations of the cardiovascular system during normal pregnancy are the basis of all discussions about the problem of preeclampsia and treatment. The main point has to be the sufficient blood supply to the fetus. In this review cardiovascular alterations in high and low pressure system have been reported. High arterial blood pressure, elevated total peripheral resistance, reduced plasma volume, hemoconcentration, reduced suspension stability and hyperviscosity are symptoms which can be treated. Clinical experiences with a hemodynamic adjusted treatment, giving firstly infusionary therapy for correcting hypovolemia with the aim of an improvement within the low pressure system which cause an increase of cardiac output and then secondly the use of only such antihypertensive drugs having favourable effects on the uteroplacental blood flow are good and confirm theoretical considerations.