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The effect of a nitric oxide donor on Doppler flow velocity waveforms in the uterine artery during the first trimester of pregnancy
Author(s) -
Amit A.,
Thaler I.,
Paz Y.,
ItskovitzEldor J.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.1998.11020094.x
Subject(s) - medicine , isosorbide dinitrate , uterine artery , heart rate , vascular resistance , blood pressure , anesthesia , hemodynamics , cardiac output , pregnancy , placebo , cardiology , gestation , alternative medicine , pathology , biology , genetics
Our objectives were to study the effect of a nitric oxide donor on uterine blood flow velocity waveforms and maternal heart rate and blood pressure during the first trimester of pregnancy. Eleven women were examined at 8–12 weeks' gestation, prior to elective termination of pregnancy. Each woman was randomly given a sublingual tablet containing 5 mg of isosorbide dinitrate or placebo, on two consecutive days. Measurements of maternal blood pressure, heart rate and Doppler flow velocity waveforms of the ascending branch of the main uterine artery were obtained before, and every 2 min (for 20 min) after taking the drug or placebo. Following administration of isosorbide dinitrate, the mean arterial blood pressure fell from a control value of 82.5 ± 5.6 mmHg to a nadir of 73 ± 4.1 mmHg at 16 min ( p < 0.0001). The mean maternal heart rate increased from a control value of 80.9 ± 2.8 beats/min to a peak of 90.4 ± 4.6 beats/min at 10 min ( p < 0.001). The mean resistance index in the uterine artery fell from a control value of 0.80 ± 0.02 to a nadir of 0.73 ± 0.03 at 10 min ( p < 0.0001). Analysis of covariance was employed to compensate for the effect of heart rate on the resistance index. The drug had a significant effect on the resistance index in the uterine artery, independent of maternal heart rate. These results suggest that drugs such as isosorbide dinitrate may have a potential benefit under such conditions where the production of nitric oxide (i.e. endothelium‐derived relaxing factor) is decreased. Copyright © 1998 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology