Fetal and maternal cardiovascular diurnal rhythms in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction

Objectives: To determine whether the diurnal blood pressure profiles in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia and/or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) differ from those in normal pregnant controls, and, if so, to establish whether such a difference is accompanied by altered diurnal rhythms of fetal heart rate (FHR) and its variation. Methods: Twenty-two women in the third trimester of pregnancy with pre-eclampsia, IUGR, or both, entered the study. Eleven healthy pregnant women served as controls. Maternal systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate (MHR) were determined automatically at 30-min intervals during a period of 26 h starting at 09.00. During the study period, nine 1-h recordings of FHR were made at predetermined timepoints. FHR was analyzed numerically. Results: Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and MHR showed diurnal patterns, with the highest values during the day and a trough during the night in all women. Daytime and night-time blood pressures were higher in pre-eclamptic wo...