American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Oct 1984
Hemodynamic measurements in preeclampsia: preliminary observations.
Ten patients with preeclampsia were monitored with a Swan-Ganz thermodilution catheter before the start of treatment. Reference data were obtained by right-heart catheterization in four normal pregnant women. In the preeclamptic group the effects of volume expansion and vasodilatation were studied. ⋯ Vasodilatation with dihydralazine resulted in a further decrease in systemic vascular resistance, a fall in blood pressure accompanied by a further increase in cardiac index with a stable pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. It is concluded that pregnant women with preeclampsia are unable to cope with a circulating volume necessary to maintain a cardiac index and ventricular filling pressure which is considered to be physiologic in normal pregnancy. In preeclampsia the capacity for vasodilatation is inadequate.