What are the novel findings of this work?This study of 2853 unselected pregnancies at 19-23 weeks' gestation found that the ophthalmic artery second to first peak of systolic velocity ratio (PSV ratio), which provides useful prediction of subsequent development of pre-eclampsia (PE), had very weak associations with indices of maternal cardiovascular function, but, in the subgroup that developed PE, there was a moderately strong association with left ventricular mass indexed for body surface area.
What are the clinical implications of this work?The ophthalmic artery second systolic wave is a reflective one, and its increase, relative to the first systolic wave, is indicative of increased peripheral vascular resistance. The association between PSV ratio and left ventricular mass in women who develop PE suggests that cardiac structural changes are likely to be the result of the increase in peripheral vascular resistance.
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