The relationship between brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and uterine artery doppler velocimetry in women with pre-eclampsia. 
To investigate serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and endothelial function in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia and to clarify their relationship with uterine artery Doppler velocimetry.  A cross-sectional study was carried out in 70 pregnant women (35 patients with pre-eclampsia and 35 age-matched normotensive healthy pregnant women) during the third trimester of pregnancy.  The maternal levels of serum hs-CRP were determined in all cases by immunonephelometry.  Uterine artery Doppler velocimetry was performed.  Flow-mediated dilatation was measured by sonography of the brachial artery for the assessment of endothelial function.  Serum hs-CRP levels were higher in the pre-eclamptic group than in the normotensive group.  hs-CRP levels were positively correlated with mean arterial pressure.  Eleven patients with pre-eclampsia had abnormal uterine artery Doppler velocimetry.  hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in pre-eclamptic patients with than without abnormal uterine artery Doppler velocimetry.  Endothelial function was inversely correlated with hs-CRP levels and mean arterial pressure.  These findings suggest that maternal serum hs-CRP levels increase with the severity of pre-eclampsia, reflecting endothelial dysfunction and constituting a potential marker of pathological utero-placental perfusion, with a high risk for fetal growth restriction.