Maternal cardiac function in early pregnancies with high uterine artery resistance

Objective To compare the maternal cardiac function and serum concentration of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in first-trimester patients, according to uterine artery Doppler velocimetry (UADV). Methods This cross-sectional study included singleton pregnancies with normal UADV (n = 17) and abnormal UADV (n = 19). Maternal echocardiography was performed and blood samples were taken at 11–14 weeks. Echocardiographic parameters included: (a) left ventricular (LV) long axis velocities; (b) atrial size; (c) LV filling pressure; (d) the ratio of peak mitral flow velocity in early diastole and early mitral annular diastolic velocity (E/Ea ratio); and (e) the E/flow propagation velocity ratio. The maternal serum concentrations of cTnT and NT-proBNP were determined by sensitive and specific immunoassays. Results Patients with abnormal UADV had higher estimated left ventricular filling pressure (P = 0.004), higher E/Ea ratio (P = 0.03), higher E/flow propagation ratio (P = 0.02), and lower LV long axis velocity (P = 0.02) than those with normal UADV. There were no significant differences in the maternal serum concentration of cTnT or NT-proBNP. Conclusions Patients with abnormal UADV in the first trimester have higher left ventricular filling pressure and may have left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Copyright © 2006 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.