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HAEMODYNAMICS OF HYPERTENSION IN PREGNANCY ASSESSED BY M‐MODE ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
Author(s) -
Larkin Hugh,
Gallery Eileen D. M.,
Hunyor Stephen N.,
Gyory Akos Z.,
Boyce E. Stewart
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
clinical and experimental pharmacology and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1440-1681
pISSN - 0305-1870
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1681.1980.tb00092.x
Subject(s) - oxprenolol , medicine , pregnancy , peripheral resistance , hemodynamics , cardiology , cardiac output , blood pressure , methyldopa , first trimester , gestation , genetics , biology
SUMMARY 1. Echocardiographic haemodynamic and left ventricular parameters were determined in twenty‐one normotensives and thirty‐six hypertensives during the last trimester of pregnancy. 2. Equivalent blood pressure control was obtained in hypertensives with bed rest only, oxprenolol or methyldopa, but remained above normotensive levels. 3. Cardiac output was elevated in the last trimester of pregnancy in normotensives and hypertensives. 4. Left ventricular mass was increased in normal pregnancy, but displayed an exaggerated increase in hypertensives. 5. Total peripheral resistance was inappropriately elevated in hypertensive pregnancy, but was normalized in the oxprenolol‐treated group. 6. There was no reduction in heart rate or cardiac output in the β ‐adrenoreceptor blocker‐treated group. This feature, in combination with lowered peripheral resistance, may contribute to the improvement in foetal outcome observed in maternal hypertension of pregnancy treated with oxprenolol.