Maternal cardiovascular function in midgestation is related to placental angiogenesis.

Objective: To investigate whether angiogenic markers of placental function are associated with maternal cardiac function and hemodynamic responses at 19-23 weeks' gestation, controlling for maternal risk factors and pregnancy complications.

Methods: This was a prospective study of women with singleton pregnancy attending King's College Hospital, London, UK, for a routine hospital visit at 19-23 weeks' gestation. We recorded maternal characteristics and measured mean arterial pressure (MAP), maternal heart rate, serum placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1).