Blood pressure in the arm and leg in late pregnancy.

Arm and leg blood pressures were measured by an indirect sphygmomanometric method in 12 women in late pregnancy and the results were compared with those in 12 matched non-pregnant women. In most of the pregnant women the diastolic blood pressure measured in the leg fell significantly with a change in posture from the supine to lateral position. In contrast, no significant change was observed in arm blood pressure with postural change after correcting for hydrostatic pressure difference. The interpretation of these findings is discussed with particular reference to methodology of blood pressure measurement.