The modern maternal hemodynamic features for prediction of preeclampsia

Abstract

Despite a significant volume of literature regarding placental dysfunction in PE, data regarding the cardiac changes associated with PE are more scant, and also more controversial. The conventional belief was that early PE is associated with reduced cardiac output (CO) and increased total vascular resistance (VR), with maternal cardiac function succumbing early in the disease process. With regard to late PE, the original data implied that this was a condition of raised CO and reduced total VR, however this model has not been reported consistently. The majority of PE is late, and has classically been described as “maternal” PE. By and large, maternal PE remains unexplained. We were proposed that whilst intrinsic placental dysfunction and the MAL-adaptation of the maternal cardiovascular system leads to early-onset PE, late PE is associated with an acquired placental dysfunction as a result of the maternal heart not being able to meet the demands of the placenta.