Baroreflex control of heart rate is impaired in pre-eclampsia

• Published in: Journal of human hypertension Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 179 - 183
• Main Authors: MOLINO, P, VEGLIO, F, GENOVA, G. C, MELCHIO, R, BENEDETTO, C, CHIAROLINI, L, RABBIA, F, GROSSO, T, MULATERO, P, CHIANDUSSI, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing 01.03.1999; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adult; Autonomic Nervous System - physiopathology; Baroreceptors; Baroreflex - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood pressure; Blood Pressure - physiology; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Heart rate; Heart Rate - physiology; Humans; Medical sciences; Parasympathetic nervous system; Plethysmography; Posture - physiology; Pre-eclampsia; Pre-Eclampsia - physiopathology; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Reflexes; Human; Heart rate; Pregnancy disorders; Pathophysiology; Pathogenesis; Autonomic nervous system; Baroreflex; Preeclampsia; Exploration; Blood pressure; Pregnancy toxemia; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0950-9240; 1476-5527
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.jhh.1000789

Autonomic nervous dysfunction, such as parasympathetic and sympathetic impairment, has been suggested as possible cause of pre-eclampsia, but the studies are not conclusive. Our purpose was to assess non-invasively if pre-eclampsia is associated with a decreased baroreflex function. Nine women with pre-eclampsia (PE), eight normotensive pregnant women, and seven healthy normotensive non-pregnant women were studied. Continuous finger blood pressure was recorded by a Portapres device in the left lateral recumbent position and active standing. Baroreflex gain was evaluated by cross-spectral analysis of systolic blood pressure and pulse interval. The result was that baroreflex gain at rest was lower in pre-eclamptic women both compared to non-pregnant and healthy pregnant subjects (P<0.05). Moreover, a decrease of the baroreflex sensitivity was present in all pregnant women in the orthostatic position (P<0.05). In conclusion pregnancy per se is associated with a decrease in the baroreflex control of the heart, whereas in pre-eclampsia, the baroreflex sensitivity is impaired further.