American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Feb 2004
Methods of assessment of the arterial pulse wave in normal human pregnancy.
The study was undertaken to obtain normal values for characteristics of the peripheral arterial pulse wave, in nonpregnant women and in pregnant women at three different stages of gestation, with two devices, to describe cardiovascular hemodynamic variables induced by pregnancy. ⋯ The clinical findings confirm the known cardiovascular changes of pregnancy associated with vasodilatation of peripheral vessels and expansion of blood volume. The fall in augmentation pressure and index are consistent with these changes. Rapid ejection time and the time from the start of the arterial waveform to the second peak/shoulder, which should reflect similar cardiovascular physiologic events, were weakly correlated.