A mathematical model of vascular and hemodynamics changes in early and late forms of preeclampsia

Preeclampsia–eclampsia syndrome is a leading cause of maternal mortality. The precise etiology of preeclampsia is still not well‐defined and different forms exist, including early and late forms or preeclampsia, which may arise via distinctly different mechanisms. Low‐dose aspirin administered at the end of the first trimester in women identified as high risk has been shown to reduce the incidence of early, but not late, preeclampsia; however, current risk factors show only fair predictive capability. There is a pressing need to develop accurate descriptions for the different forms of preeclampsia. This paper presents 1D fluid, solid, growth, and remodeling models for pregnancies complicated with early and late forms of preeclampsia. Simulations affirm a broad set of literature results that early forms of preeclampsia are characterized by elevated uterine artery pulsatility index (UA‐PI) and total peripheral resistance (TPR) and lower cardiac output (CO), with modestly increased mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) in the first half of pregnancy, with elevation of TPR and MAP beginning at 20 weeks. Conversely, late forms of preeclampsia are characterized by only slightly elevated UA‐PI and normal pre‐term TPR, and slightly elevated MAP and CO throughout pregnancy, with increased TPR and MAP beginning after 34 weeks. Results suggest that preexisting arterial stiffness may be elevated in women that develop both early forms and late forms of preeclampsia; however, data that verify these results are lacking in the literature. Pulse wave velocity increases in early‐ and late‐preeclampsia, coincident with increases in blood pressure; however, these increases are mainly due to the strain‐stiffening response of larger arteries, rather than arterial remodeling‐derived changes in material properties. These simulations affirm that early forms of preeclampsia may be associated with abnormal placentation, whereas late forms may be more closely associated with preexisting maternal cardiovascular factors; simulations also highlight several critical gaps in available data.