Water immersion shows little benefit in preeclampsia

Water immersion provides little therapeutic benefit for women with preeclampsia, according to a new report in the December issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Researchers in the Netherlands evaluated the effects of 3 hours of thermoneutral water immersion on the central and peripheral hemodynamics of seven women with preeclampsia, seven pregnant women without this condition, and seven nonpregnant women.

Water immersion did increase cardiac output and reduce heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, and total peripheral resistance, but the results were limited and transient. Systolic blood pressure remained unchanged in all groups. Even with the decline, total peripheral resistance remained higher in women with preeclampsia than their normotensive counterparts. Most changes returned to baseline within 2 hours.

Elvan-Taspinar A, Franx A, Delprat CC. Water immersion in preeclampsia. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006;195:1590-1595.