Variation in cerebral perfusion pressure with different hypertensive states in pregnancy

Hypertension or preeclampsia in pregnancy appear to substantially increase cerebral blood flow. Researchers calculated blood flow in the brain of 17 nonpregnant women, 17 pregnant women, 20 pregnant women with high blood pressure, and 21 women with preeclampsia, a hypertensive complication of pregnancy. Hypertensive and preeclamptic women had significantly elevated cerebral perfusion pressure, but pregnancy alone only caused an 18% increase in blood flow in the brain, compared to the flow in nonpregnant women.