Abstract
The intraarterial blood pressure was measured at rest and during reactive hyperaemia of the lower legs in seven primigravidae during the first trimester and in six subjects 2 weeks after early legal abortion. Blood pressure measurements were taken in the right brachial artery and in both femoral arteries. Under conditions of rest the mean blood pressure in the femoral artery in relation to the mean pressure in the brachial artery was lower during early pregnancy than 2 weeks after abortion. The peripheral vascular resistance per 100 ml tissue was calculated on the basis of earlier blood flow investigations and the mean arterial blood pressures reported here. At rest it was found to be higher in the arm than in the leg. During reactive hyperaemia in the lower legs the peripheral vascular resistance was found to be almost the same during early pregnancy and 2 weeks after early abortion.