STUDY OF ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS IN NORMAL PREGNANT-WOMEN

The authors report the results of a transverse prospective study of 80 normal women, divided into 4 groups of 20 : control group, 1st trimes ter of pregnancy, 2nd trimester of pregnancy, 3rd trimester of pregnan cy. These groups were comparable in terms of age, height and haemoglob in level. No significant difference was observed in terms of obstetric profile between the various groups of women. The results did not reve al any difference concerning the morphology of cardiac structures, the parameters of left ventricular diastolic filling and the frequency of valvular regurgitation. On the other hand, diameters and cavity volum es, left ventricular mass, left ventricular ejection fraction, and max imal antegrade aortic and pulmonary blood flow rates were higher durin g pregnancy; these increases were less marked when the measurements we re performed in the dorsal supine position compared to those observed in the left lateral supine position.