Objective: To test the contribution of the endothelium to the maximum vasodilatation in patients with preeclampsia and healthy pregnant controls.
Methods: Laser-Doppler flowmetry, which is a noninvasive method for the continuous measurement of skin blood flow, was used to test the response of skin microcirculation to the above-mentioned stimuli in 14 patients with preeclampsia and 20 normotensive pregnant controls.
Results: In normotensive pregnant controls, the reactive hyperemic response after a 3-minute ischemia in the forearm reaches values of 77 +/- 16% of the maximum vasodilatation, which was induced by local hyperthermia of 42C. In patients with preeclampsia, this response was significantly (P <.05) reduced (43 +/- 9%).
Conclusion: Vascular reactivity is altered in skin vessels of patients with preeclampsia in vivo. This alteration seems to be attributable mainly to the endothelium.