HEMORHEOLOGY DURING PREGNANCY - INFLUENCES OF PARITY, LOW-SODIUM DIET, HYPERTENSION, FETAL GROWTH-RETARDATION AND PREMATURITY

Longitudinal physiologic changes in blood viscosity parameters were st udied in 9 women with uneventful pregnancies. After an initial decreas e in blood viscosity, an increase towards the end of pregnancy was fou nd. The oxygen-transport capacity remained quite constant during pregn ancy with a small rise at gestational week 32. A cross-sectional study was performed in 102 pregnant women at 28 weeks gestation. Chronic di etary sodium restriction did not influence blood viscosity significant ly. No significant relationships were found between hemorheologic para meters and parity, prematurity and fetal growth retardation. Higher bl ood viscosity was found in women who became hypertensive in pregnancy, even before the onset of the disease. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd.