Arterial stiffness and fetal growth in normotensive pregnancy.
BACKGROUND
Normal pregnancy is characterized by a decrease in peripheral resistance and generalized vasodilation resulting in plasma volume expansion, which is associated with intrauterine growth. Stiffness of the arterial system may be a measure of the degree of plasma volume expansion. Pulse wave velocity (PWV), measured by applanation tonometry, is a validated approach to determine arterial stiffness. Pulse pressure (PP) is considered a surrogate measure for arterial stiffness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between arterial stiffness and fetal growth.


METHODS
In 50 normotensive pregnancies, carotid-femoral PWV was measured in the third trimester in 30 degrees lateral position. Blood pressure measurements were performed with conventional auscultatory sphygmomanometry. Birth weight centiles and weight centiles at the age of 6 months were recorded. Linear regression models were used for statistical analyses.


RESULTS
There was a significant relationship in PWV with both birth weight centiles and catch-up growth after birth, independent of mean arterial pressure (MAP). An increase of 1 m/sec in PWV was associated with a decrease in birth weight centiles by 17.6% and a catch-up of 22.3% in weight centiles after birth. A stronger association was found for pulse pressure and birth weight centiles. An increase of 1 mm Hg was associated with a decrease in birth weight centiles by 1.8%. There was no association between MAP and birth weight centiles.


CONCLUSIONS
In normotensive pregnancy arterial stiffness is associated with birth weight centile and catch-up growth after birth, independently from MAP. This suggests that arterial stiffness reflects maternal vascular adaptation to pregnancy better than blood pressure.
Elvan-Taspinar
Ayten
A
Department of Perinatology and Gynaecology, KE.04.123.1, University Medical Center Utrecht, Lundlaan 6, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands. A.Elvan-Taspinar@azu.nl
Franx
Arie
A
Bots
Michiel L
ML
Koomans
Hein A
HA
Bruinse
Hein W
HW
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D001724:Birth Weight; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*