In the Netherlands almost 15.000 women each year develop hypertensive complications like preeclampsia during their first pregnancy. In the western world these complications account for the most substantial attribution to neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. The exact etiology of this disease cascade is still unknown. There is accumulating evidence that subclinical abnormalities and preexistent haemodynamic, haemostatic and endothelial factors are involved, and thought to have negative impact on placental and endothelial functioning. The same factors are found to be risk factors for cardiovascular incidents and therefore it is not surprising that remotely these women are more at risk for hypertension, cardiovascular disease and stroke. Plasma volume has possibly a central role in the disease cascade, resulting in decreased cardiovascular reserve capacity. Furthermore a low plasma volume is found to be a strong predictor for recurrence of hypertensive complicated pregnancy. Adaptation, like in pregnancy, is for a large extent depending on the functioning of the venous compartment. In formerly preeclamptic women with low plasma volume is the venous compliance and capacitance decreased, furthermore there is sympathic hyperactivity. This combination reflects a decreased cardiovascular reserve capacity. These women with low plasma volume show a reduced ability to adapt their cardiovascular system to a new pregnancy.
It is known that physical exercise increases plasma volume in healthy adults, also arterial and both venous compliance and capacitance is improved by exercise. Since abnormal circulatory functions are common in formerly preeclamptic women, we want to study the effects of exercise in this specific group, and compare these results with women after an uneventful pregnancy. In preventive perspective it would be beneficial that also formerly preeclamptic women show a circulatory adaption to aerobic exercise, possibly they could improve their haemodynamic profile prior to their pregnancy
