Pregnancy and arterial compliance

OBJECTIVE: To examine the hypothesis that pregnancy is associated with vascular remodeling, leading to an increased vascular compliance that can be observed in subsequent pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: Chart review of 41 multiparous deliveries at our institution from a 2-month period in 2004. Charts examined were from patients with uncomplicated, singleton pregnancies who were nulliparous during their prior delivery. Patients with blood pressure recordings in all 3 trimesters during both pregnancies were included. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) in the index and prior pregnancy was compared. RESULTS: There were no significant MAP differences noted, other than in the late third trimester (MAP, 85.05 vs. 80.15, p < 0.001). When we plotted the difference in >34 weeks MAP against the time between pregnancies, we did not see any statistically significant correlation (Pearson Correlation -0.147, p = 0.35). We examined the mean pulse pressure at > 34 weeks. We found no statistically significant differences between the first and second pregnancies (mean pulse pressure, 42.27 vs. 43.55, p = 0.5). CONCLUSION: Our data does not support the hypothesis that pregnancy is associated with vascular remodeling, leading to an increased vascular compliance that can be observed in subsequent pregnancies. This could be due to demographic differences between our population and previously studied populations.