Objective: Pregnancy is associated with profound alterations in the maternal cardiovascular system. The aim of the study was to assess using applanation tonometry (AT) the maternal central aortic blood pressures (BP), wave reflection and arterial stiffness in pregnancy complicated with threatened abortion.

Methods: Radial AT (Sphygmocor; AtCor Medical) was performed in 55 women (mean age 26,8±5,6 years) with singleton pregnancies at 5 to 22 weeks of gestation. All women had pregnancies complicated by threatened abortion. Central BP and augmentation index (AIx) - a measure of arterial wave reflection - were assessed using pulse wave analysis of the radial artery waveform and a validated transfer function. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurement on carotid-femoral segment was performed to evaluate arterial stiffness. Brachial BP measured with mercury sphygmomanometer by Korotkoff sounds. The data are shown as Mean+SD, p<0,05 was considered significant.

Results: Brachial and central BPs were similar in women at 5–13 weeks of gestation (n=35) and those at 14–21 weeks of gestation (n=20): brachial BP 106,8±9,6/68,3±7,4 and 106±10,9/67,7±7,3 mmHg, respectively, central systolic BP 92,7±8,9 and 91,5±8,7, respectively. AIx adjusted to heart rate (AIx-75) was lower in women at 14–21 weeks of gestation than in those at 5–13 weeks: 4±12% vs 2,5±13% (p<0,05). Carotid-femoral PWV was significantly higher in the first trimester of pregnancy than in the second: 8,3±0,1 vs 8,1±0,2 m/s (p<0,05).

Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that there is decline in wave reflection and aortic stiffness from 5–13 weeks to 14–21 weeks of gestation in pregnancies complicated with a threatened abortion.