Abstract

Cardiac output rises in pregnancy, and most of this increase occurs in the first trimester. Both heart rate and stroke volume contribute to this increase, which, coupled with a decrease in mean arterial pressure, determines a reduction of maternal total vascular resistance (TVR) in physiological pregnancy. The absence of a ‚correct’ maternal cardiovascular compensatory response (absence of increase in cardiac output, heart rate, stroke volume, left ventricular mass and decrease in maternal TVR), in addition to abnormal trophoblastic invasion, might be one of the factors that could determine a reduced placental perfusion and, eventually, the development of fetal intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). In fact, pregnancies complicated by IUGR appear to lack the stimulus to induce the hemodynamic changes typically present in physiological pregnancy such as the increase in preload, maternal heart rate, stroke volume, the enlargement of the left atrium and, above all, the reduction of TVR. It is difficult to e...

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.