GESTATIONAL DIABETES-MELLITUS AND HYPERTENSION IN PREGNANCY - HEMODYNAMICS AND DIURNAL ARTERIAL-PRESSURE PROFILE

We characterised the 24-h arterial pressure (AP) profile and the left ventricular (LV) structures and functions in pregnant women with pregn ancy-induced hypertension (PIH) or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) , Thirty pregnant women after 20 weeks' gestation - (10 normotensive; 10 with PIH; and 10 with GDM) - were investigated haemodynamically usi ng 24-h AP monitoring and Doppler echocardiography for determination o f LV structures and functions, both systolic and diastolic, The PIH wo men had significantly higher AP determinations throughout the 24 h, wi th no change in the diurnal variation, ie, nocturnal decline and early morning peaks, The LV mass was greater in PIH and GDM than in the nor motensive women, despite normal AP in GDM, The increased LV mass in GD M was mainly due to LV dilatation and not to increased thickness of it s walls, In PIH, the increase in AP was due to peripheral vasoconstric tion, while cardiac output was preserved, The LV systolic functions di d not differ among the three groups, However, a slight reduction in th e myocardial contractility was found in PIH and GDM. The LV relaxation was significantly impaired in both PIH and GDM. Thus, GDM and PIH, al though differing in their 24-h AP profile, are characterised by LV hyp ertrophy and reduction in diastolic function.