Physiologic Vascular Changes During Pregnancy

Vascular changes are frequent during pregnancy, and occur to a variable extent in women. The changes include distension, instability, and proliferation of vessels [38]. The main clinical results of these abnormalities are spider angiomata (nevi aranei) and palmar erythema [35]. Other commonly seen abnormalities are flushing of the skin and temporary edema of the face, hands, and feet [24]. Most rare are small hemangiomas of subcutaneous cavernous type which disappear shortly after delivery [24].

Some of the vascular changes are used as diagnostic features of pregnancy. Erythema of the vestibule and vagina, called the Jacquemier—Chadwick sign, results from distension of their vasculature, and occurs early in gestation [19, 38]. The bluish discoloration of the cervix, known as the Goodell sign, is also a result of increased vascularity, this time of the cervix [7].