Abstract
The resistivity index (RI), elasticity index (EI), dicrotic index (DI) and effective arteriolar elastic index (Ea) were investigated by recording finger-tip plethysmograms, in normal pregnancy, puerperium, non-pregnancy and toxemia of pregnancy. The following results were obtained. 1) The RI values in non-pregnancy decreased with increasing age. In normal pregnancy, the RI values also decreased with increasing age. These values were even lower in toxemia of pregnancy. In women over 40 years of age, there was an increase in the incidence of decreased RI and El values and abnormal DI values.
2) In toxemia of pregnancy, especially in those with hypertension and proteinuria, there was a high incidence of decreased RI and El values and abnormal DI values.
3) In toxemia of pregnancy, there was a high incidence of after-effects in patients with abnormal RI, El and DI values.
4) There were a significantly large number of casesjshowing low RI values in the group of toxemia of pregnancy with KW I-IV funduscopic findings.
5) The RI values tended to decrease immediately after delivery. They also tended to decrease gradually during the lying-in period.
6) When 30 mg of progesterone was administered to those cases who showed rigid and anacrotic waves on the 3rd day of lying-in, the waveforms were changed to normal catacrotic and dilated waves.
7) The increase in RI values tended to become greater when lactation ceased and menstruation started.
8) These results show that the RI values in finger-tip plethysmograms are useful in clinical obstetrics, especially in toxemia of pregnancy and vascular dilatation tests before and after delivery.
