Time course of changes in maternal left ventricular function during subsequent pregnancy in women with a history of gestational hypertensive disorders

摘要

Women with a history of gestational hypertensive disorders (GHD) are at increased risk for developing perinatal cardiovascular compli-cations (e.g., gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, etc.) in subsequent pregnancies. The underlying mechanisms remain uncertain, but impaired maternal left ventricular function may be one contributing factor for these complications. We evaluated the time course of changes in left ventricular function before, during, and after pregnancy in women with prior GHD. Sixteen women with a history of GHD (the high-risk group) and 25 women without such a history (controls) were enrolled. Resting hemodynamic and echocardio-graphic measurements were longitudinally performed before pregnancy, during early pregnancy (4-8 wk of gestation), during late pregnancy (32-36 wk of gestation), and postpartum (6-10 wk after delivery).