ASSESSMENT OF LEFT VENTRICULAR FUNCTION IN PREGNANT WOMEN WITH PREECLAMPSIA BY ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

Abstract

Background: Preeclampsia places a substantial haemodynamic burden on the maternal heart, and subclinical diastolic dysfunction may precede overt cardiac symptoms. Local data on this relationship remain scarce, and published values vary considerably.

Objective: To assess left ventricular diastolic function by transthoracic echocardiography, using the E/A ratio, isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT), and deceleration time (DT), in pregnant women with preeclampsia.

Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, LUMHS, Jamshoro, from July 29, 2024 to January 28, 2025. Women with preeclampsia, aged 18–45 years and 28–40 weeks of gestation, were enrolled by non-probability consecutive sampling. Echocardiography was performed in the third trimester to record the E/A ratio, IVRT, and DT. Data were analysed in SPSS v26; variables were stratified by age, parity, gestational age, BMI, and diabetic status using the independent-samples t-test.

Results: Of 71 preeclamptic women, the mean age was 28.2 ± 4.1 years. The mean E/A ratio was 0.91 ± 0.14, mean IVRT 123.8 ± 15.6 ms, and mean DT 231.3 ± 17.0 ms. Diastolic dysfunction (E/A <0.8 with IVRT >100 ms) was found in 16 (22.5%) women. The E/A ratio was lower beyond 34 weeks' gestation than at 28–34 weeks (0.94 vs 0.88, p=0.047), and IVRT was longer in nulliparous than multiparous women (130.8 vs 120.9 ms, p=0.028).

Conclusion: Left ventricular diastolic function is measurably impaired in a meaningful proportion of preeclamptic women, supporting routine echocardiographic screening in this population for timely cardio-obstetric surveillance.