Key result
A history of pre-eclampsia was associated with impaired endothelium-independent and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation compared to previous normotensive pregnancy (P=0.004 to P=0.057).
Why the study?
Does a history of pre-eclampsia impair vascular dilatation in non-pregnant women compared to those with a history of uncomplicated pregnancy?
Observational (n=51)
Does a history of pre-eclampsia impair vascular dilatation in non-pregnant women compared to those with a history of uncomplicated pregnancy?
p-value: p=0.004, 0.057, 0.045, 0.02
Women with a history of pre-eclampsia exhibit impaired endothelium-dependent and -independent vascular dilatation, providing a plausible mechanism for their increased long-term cardiovascular risk.
Supports vascular impairment as mechanism for post-pre-eclampsia CV risk; hypothesis-generating for prospective validation and interventions.
OBJECTIVE: The mechanisms underlying increased cardiovascular risk among women with a history of pre-eclampsia remain unclear. Impaired endothelial function has been observed in both pre-eclampsia and atherosclerosis, and provides a plausible link between the two conditions. We studied endothelial function and arterial compliance in non-pregnant, previously pre-eclamptic women. DESIGN: A study of 30 women with a history of pre-eclampsia and 21 women with a previous normotensive, uncomplicated pregnancy was carried out. METHODS: Changes in brachial artery blood flow, induced by intra-arterial infusions of an endothelium-independent (sodium nitroprusside) and an endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine) vasodilator, were measured by venous occlusion plethysmography. Arterial stiffness was assessed by pulse-wave analysis. RESULTS: Vasodilatation was impaired in women with previous pre-eclampsia; at low and high concentrations of endothelium-independent (P = 0.004 and P = 0.057, respectively) and endothelium-dependent (P = 0.045 and P = 0.02) vasodilators, respectively. There was no difference in arterial stiffness between the groups (P = 0.45). In multiple regression analyses both endothelium-independent and endothelium-dependent vasodilatations were independently associated with a history of pre-eclampsia and parity. There was no correlation with blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), smoking or age. CONCLUSIONS: The finding of impaired vascular dilatation several years after a pre-eclamptic pregnancy could contribute to the higher risk of cardiovascular disease in these women.
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Lampinen et al. (2006) conducted an observational in History of pre-eclampsia (n=51). History of pre-eclampsia vs. Previous normotensive, uncomplicated pregnancy was evaluated on Changes in brachial artery blood flow induced by endothelium-independent and endothelium-dependent vasodilators (p=0.004, 0.057, 0.045, 0.02). A history of pre-eclampsia was associated with impaired endothelium-independent and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation compared to previous normotensive pregnancy (P=0.004 to P=0.057).