Remote hemodynamics and renal function in formerly preeclamptic women.
OBJECTIVE
Women with a history of preeclampsia have an increased risk of developing chronic hypertension and cardiovascular disease. However, little is known about the mechanism responsible for vascular disease in formerly preeclamptic women. The aim of our study was to test whether preeclampsia predisposes to central hemodynamic and renal impairments 20 years after pregnancy.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, 22 formerly preeclamptic women and 29 parous controls participated, matched for body mass index, age, and date of birth. All women delivered in the period of 1979-1987. Measures included automated blood pressure, Doppler echocardiography, microalbuminuria, paraaminohippurate, and creatinine clearances. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure at or above 140/90 mm Hg, using antihypertensive drugs, or both.


RESULTS
Hypertension was present in 55% of the formerly preeclamptic women and 7% of the women in the control group (P<.01). Mean arterial pressure was higher in the formerly preeclamptic women compared with those in the control group (100 and 88 mm Hg, respectively, P<.01). Peripheral vascular resistance was about 20% higher, renal vascular resistance about 30% higher, and renal blood flow about 15% lower in the formerly preeclamptic women compared with those in the control group (P<.05). Similar results were observed after stratification for hypertension in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Both normotensive and hypertensive middle-aged, formerly preeclamptic women showed impaired central hemodynamic and renal function compared with parous controls.


METHODS
II.
Spaan
Julia J
JJ
From the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, and Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; and the Research Institute GROW, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Ekhart
Timo
T
Spaanderman
Marc E A
MEA
Peeters
Louis L H
LLH
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology