Morning Hypertension and Non-dipper Behavior in Pregnant Women with White Coat Syndrome

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Abstract

Background: White coat syndrome (WCS) is common during pregnancy, although little is known about its clinical outcome during gestation. Morning hypertension and the non-dipper behavior, measured by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), are associated with greater risk of cardiovascular events. However, there are few studies during pregnancy.
Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to evaluate morning hypertension and the non-dipper behavior in pregnant women with WCS versus a control normotensive group. A secondary objective was to evaluate whether WCS, morning hypertension and the non-dipper behavior in the second trimester of pregnancy were associated with greater hypertension in the third trimester.
Methods: This prospective study included 95 primiparae in the 20th week of gestation, 50 with WCS and 45 as normotensive control group. Routine lab tests, office blood pressure and ABPM at inclusion and in the 32th week of gestation were recorded. Morning hypertension and the non-dipper behavior were evaluated by ABPM.
Results: Age, and baseline blood glucose level and daytime and nighttime blood pressure by ABPM were similar in both groups. Conversely, patients presenting WCS had significantly higher values of morning hypertension and non-dipper behavior, which were independently associated with sustained hypertension in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Conclusions: Pregnant women with WCS in the 20th week of gestation presented greater morning hypertension and non-dipper behavior and progressed more frequently to sustained hypertension than the control normotensive group.