Maternal cardiac systolic and diastolic function: relationship with uteroplacental resistances. A Doppler and echocardiographic longitudinal study

Abstract

Diastolic cardiac function varies during pregnancy. A relationship between preload (left atrial enlargement), afterload (RI reduction), morphologic, and diastolic function modifications (IVRT reduction, DtE prolongation) appears to exist as a consequence of the hemodynamic modifications which occur during physiologic pregnancy. Diastolic function analysis maybe useful to identify women who fully adapt to pregnancy, and to understand the mechanisms that might be involved in women who show abnormal uterine artery Doppler waveforms.