Hemorheological changes and their clinical relevance in preeclampsia

Abstract

This review summarizes the hemorheological changes during gestation and their clinical relevance in preeclampsia. The gestational disease named preeclampsia, characterized by proteinuria (more than 0.3 g/day) and hypertension (blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg), exists from the 20th gestational week until the sixth post partum week. Its etiology is complex; the pathomechanism mainly involves disturbances in cross talks among the vegetative system, the placenta and the circulatory system. Soluble factors of placenta mediate circulatory changes, which result in adaptive responses in both vegetative and circulatory systems. Derailment of this adaption, however, leads to increased turbulence and local damages in cellular elements of the circulatory system. The initial local lesion progresses to a generalized form. Later, these events will continue to strengthen their own cycle. As a result, an unstable circulatory state will be established, which causes organ damages. Orv. Hetil., 2011, 152, 205–211.