Influence of non-dipping pattern of blood pressure in gestational hypertension on maternal cardiac function, hemodynamics and intrauterine growth restriction

Abstract Background An association between gestational hypertension (GH) and changes of maternal cardiac function was previously reported. Aim The study assessed the effect of non-dipping pattern of blood pressure (BP) in GH on haemodynamic function and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Methods This study included 126 women (91 with GH and 35 normotensive controls). Based on the BP values measured by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), all hypertensive women were classified in dipper (46 women) or in non-dipper group (45 women). All participants underwent echocardiography and ABPM during the third trimester. Results Participants with GH and non-dipping pattern had significantly lower velocity of longitudinal systolic function (s') (p i ) compared to dippers (p Conclusion Changes in maternal hemodynamics, as well as IUGR, are strongly related to the non-dipping pattern of BP.