Assessment of skin microvascular response through pregnancy using laser speckle contrast imaging

Normal pregnancy is characterized by early and pronounced changes in the maternal cardiovascular system, to provide the optimal environment for sufficient fetal growth and development. While the precise mechanisms for these hemodynamic changes are not yet fully clear, recent evidence suggests that changes in adaptive endothelial function are a contributory factor. However, much of the evidence regarding the microvascular adaptation has been based on circulating endothelial markers or observations of the behavior of large blood vessels. Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is a novel noninvasive tool for the in vivo assessment of skin microvascular perfusion in real-time, offering very high spatial and temporal resolution. Due to its high accessibility, the skin microcirculation can serve as a surrogate marker for systemic endothelial function in both physiological and pathological conditions.The main purpose of this study was to explore the physiological course of endothelial adaptation through pregnancy by assessing changes in skin microvascular reactivity acrossthe 3 trimesters using LSCI combined with postocclusive reactive hyperemia (PORH). Additionally, the study aimed to compare the results in pregnant patients with those obtained from non pregnant healthy females.