Severe Preeclampsia is Associated with Functional and Structural Cardiac Alterations: A Case-control Study

Background The aim of the current study is to compare electrocardiographic and echocardiographic changes in patients with severe preeclampsia (PE) and those with uncomplicated pregnancies. Methods This is a case-controlled prospective study consisting of 21 pregnant women with severe preeclampsia and a control group consisting of age- and gestational age-matched 24 healthy pregnant women. All patients underwent electrocardiographic and echocardiographic investigation. Results QRS intervals were shorter and PR intervals were longer in the PE group (QRS duration: 80 (60-120) ms and 80 (40-110) ms, p=0.035; PR duration: 160 (100-240) ms and 120 (80-200) ms, respectively; p=0.046). The left ventricular end-systolic diameters of the patients with severe PE group were significantly larger than the control group (31 (24-36) mm and 30 (24-33) mm, respectively; p=0.05). Similarly, posterior wall thickness values of the PE group were significantly higher compared to the control group (9 (7-11) mm vs. 8 (6-10) mm, respectively; p=0.020). Left ventricular mass (146.6327.73g and 128.69 +/- 23.25g, respectively; p=0.033) and relative wall thickness values (0.385 +/- 0.054 and 0.349 +/- 0.046, respectively; p=0.030) were also higher in the PE group. In addition, patients with early-onset severe PE had significantly a higher left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and volume compared with late-onset PE patients. Conclusions The structural changes detected in the severe PE group suggest a chronic process rather than an acute effect. In addition, diastolic dysfunction and left ventricular remodeling are most marked in patients with severe early-onset PE.