Effect of Preeclampsia on Left Ventricular Diastolic Function

Abstract Background: Preeclampsia is a significant cause of ma-ternal cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. An increase in PVR (peripheral vascular resistance) and Left Ventricular (LV) mass can predict negative maternal and fetal outcomes. Additionally, LV systolic tissue doppler parameters were found to be decreased in preeclampsia indicating impaired myocardial contractility. As diastolic function is known to precede systolic dysfunction in preeclamptic women may indicate early cardiovascular (CV) dysfunction and prompt early intervention. Aim of Study: This study investigates the diastolic function in preeclamptic patients. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted at Misr University Hospital from 1-4-2015 to 31-12-2015. Sixty pregnant women were allocated intotwo groups: group I [n=30] includin preeclamptic women and group II [n=30] including normotensive pregnant women. Maternal echocar-diography was conducted to measure the diastolic (E /A and E/Em) and systolic LV function (EF and Tei index). Results: There were no statistically significant differences between both groups in all parameters of systolic function (EF, mitral C-to-O time, LVE time, Tei index, stroke volume and cardiac output) (p>0.05), nor conventional mean E/A ratio, whereas the mean E/Em ratio was (5.58±2.60 and 4.31±1.04) in preeclamptic and normotensive women respec-tively, which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Neverthe-less, there were no significant differences between both groups at 6-month follow-up. Conclusion: There was no significant difference between normotensive and mild preeclamptic women regarding systolic functions. However, mild preeclamptic patients had impaired diastolic functions. This may suggest that assessing diastolic functions in early pregnancy may be of significance in pre-dicting preeclampsia.