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. 2014 Jul-Aug;47(4):206-9.
doi: 10.1590/0100-3984.2013.1894.

Prediction of early and late preeclampsia by flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery

Augusto Henriques Fulgêncio Brandão  1 , Aline Aarão Evangelista  2 , Raphaela Menin Franco Martins  2 , Henrique Vítor Leite  3 , Antônio Carlos Vieira Cabral  4
Affiliations

Prediction of early and late preeclampsia by flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery

Augusto Henriques Fulgêncio Brandão et al. Radiol Bras. 2014 Jul-Aug.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To assess the accuracy in the prediction of both early and late preeclampsia by flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery (FMD), a biophysical marker for endothelial dysfunction.

Materials and methods: A total of 91 patients, considered at high risk for development of preeclampsia were submitted to brachial artery FMD between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation.

Results: Nineteen out of the selected patients developed preeclampsia, 8 in its early form and 11 in the late form. With a cut-off value of 6.5%, the FMD sensitivity for early preeclampsia prediction was 75.0%, with specificity of 73.3%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 32.4% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 91.9%. For the prediction of late preeclampsia, sensitivity = 83.3%, specificity = 73.2%, PPV = 34.4% and NPV = 96.2% were observed. And for the prediction of all associated forms of preeclampsia, sensitivity = 84.2%, specificity = 73.6%, PPV = 45.7% and NPV = 94.6% were observed.

Conclusion: FMD of the brachial artery is a test with good accuracy in the prediction of both early and late preeclampsia, which may represent a positive impact on the follow-up of pregnant women at high risk for developing this syndrome.

Objetivo: Avaliar a capacidade de predição das formas precoce e tardia da pré-eclâmpsia pela dilatação fluxo-mediada da artéria braquial (FMD), marcador biofísico de disfunção endotelial.

Materiais e métodos: Um total de 91 pacientes de alto risco para desenvolvimento de pré-eclâmpsia foi submetido a FMD entre 24 e 28 semanas de gestação.

Resultados: Das pacientes selecionadas, 19 desenvolveram pré-eclâmpsia, sendo 8 em sua forma precoce e 11 em sua forma tardia. Usando-se um valor de corte de 6,5%, a sensibilidade (S) da FMD para predição de pré-eclâmpsia precoce foi 75,0%, com especificidade (E) de 73,3%, valor preditivo positivo (VPP) de 32,4% e valor preditivo negativo (VPN) de 91,9%. Para predição de pré-eclâmpsia tardia, encontrou-se valor de S de 83,3%, E de 73,2%, VPP de 34,4% e VPN de 96,2%. Para a predição de todas as formas associadas de pré-eclâmpsia, encontrou-se valor de S de 84,2%, E de 73,6%, VPP de 45,7% e VPN de 94,6%.

Conclusão: A FMD se mostrou uma ferramenta com boa capacidade de predição de pré-eclâmpsia, nas suas formas tardia e precoce, o que pode representar um impacto positivo no acompanhamento de gestantes de alto risco para desenvolvimento dessa síndrome.

Keywords: Prediction; Preeclampsia; Ultrasonography; Vascular endothelium.

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