Change in Mean Arterial Pressure Following Isometric Exercise in Normotensive and Hypertensive Pregnancy: Validation of a Continuous Blood Pressure Monitor

Abstract

Objective: To validate the Cor 7000 continuous blood pressure monitor for measurement of changes in blood pressure induced by isometric exercise in pregnancy.

Methods: Twenty pregnant Chinese women, 9 normotensive and 11 with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), had simultaneous brachial artery blood pressure recordings performed with a Cor 7000 and a Dinamap 1846SX, in the supine position at rest and after isometric exercise.

Results: Blood pressure measurements with the two machines were highly correlated (r > 0.8), but the Cor 7000 tended to read about 2.5 mm Hg lower than the Dinamap. The pattern of change in mean arterial pressure following isometric exercise differed between patients with proteinuric PIH and those who were normotensive or had only mild to moderate, nonpro-teinuric PIH. These patterns were not influenced by the type of sphygmomanometer or the arm used for measurement, but the Cor 7000 tended to give recordings about 3 mm Hg lower than the Dinamap.

Conclusions: The Cor 7000 monitor provides measurements compatible to the Dinamap in pregnancy and allows examination of patterns of blood pressure response to isometric exercise. Differential patterns of response may have a predictive value for proteinuric PIH.

Key Words:

• Continuous sphygmomanometry
• Isometric exercise
• Pregnancy-induced hypertension