Difference of endothelial function during pregnancies as a method to predict preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND

Systemic endothelial dysfunction has been identified as one of the main events in preeclampsia (PE). A nonhealthy vascular endothelium can be pointed out as the pathophysiological explanation of the clinical manifestations and complications of PE. Once normal pregnancy is characterized by a constant increase in endothelial function, a follow-up of this physiological event could be used as an early marker or a prediction tool to predict PE.

OBJECTIVES

To perform a longitudinal assessment of endothelial function, using an ultrasound study of brachial artery flow Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies, to evaluate the difference of FMD values along the second trimester of pregnancy to predict PE.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In a prospective cohort study, 91 pregnant women with a high risk of developing PE were subjected to FMD of the brachial artery. The difference in the FMD values, between 16(+0) and 19(+6) and 24(+0) and 27(+6) weeks of gestation were compared, taking PE development into consideration. Receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curves were created to determine the sensibility and specificity of FMD difference to predict PE.

RESULTS

A total of 19 patients developed PE and the other 72 women remained normotensive until 1 week after delivery. When considering a cut off of +2.50 %, FMD difference, between the two evaluations, sensitivity for PE prediction was 87.5 % for early onset PE and 95.5 % for late PE.

CONCLUSION

The difference of FMD values between the second trimester of pregnancy can be used for PE prediction for both, early and late forms of PE.