Autonomic Imbalance in Preeclampsia: Evidence for Increased Sympathetic Tone in Response to the Supine-Pressor Test

Abstract

Third-trimester pregnancy is characterized by sympathetic overactivity. When complicated by preeclampsia, sympathetic overreactivity to cardiovascular reflex testing is observed. Our data support the notion that the pathophysiologic phenomena that characterize preeclampsia are mediated not only by circulating or locally acting vasoactive substances, but also, at least in part, by an increase in sympathetic nervous tone.