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Am J Perinatol 1994; 11(5): 313-316
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-994542
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1994 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Does Thermal Stress Decrease Uterine Blood Flow in Hypertensive Pregnancies?

Jouko P. Pirhonen, Kalevi K. Vähä-Eskeli, Asko Seppänen, Jouni Vuorinen, Risto U. Erkkola
  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turku University Hospital (J.P.P., K.K.V.-E., R.U.E.), Rehabilitation Research Center of the Social Insurance Institution (A.S.), and Data Management and Biostatistics, Orion Corporation Farmos, R&D Pharmaceuticals (J.V.), Turku, Finland
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Publication History

Publication Date:
04 March 2008 (online)

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ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to determine the acute effects of thermal stress on maternal and fetal circulatory responses in normal and hypertensive patients. Therefore we studied 14 healthy pregnant women and 12 women with compromised pregnancies during short-term heat stress using color Doppler ultrasound in addition to conventional follow-up methods. The uterine vascular resistance increased significantly during the exposure in the high-risk pregnancy group without change in the control group. The results of the present study give strong support to our earlier studies that short-term heat stress seems to be safe in uncomplicated pregnancies but may be detrimental in high-risk pregnancies.

Keywords

Thermal stress - Doppler - ultrasound - hypertension - pregnancy

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