Vascular risk in women with a history of severe preeclampsia.
BACKGROUND. To assess markers of vascular dysfunction and risk in postpartum women with a history of severe preeclampsia.


METHODS
Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) measured by ultrasonography, and lipid profile and insulin resistance evaluated by biochemical assays were compared between 34 women with a history of severe preeclampsia and 42 women with a prior normal pregnancy at least 12-24 months postpartum.


RESULTS
CIMT was higher and FMD lower in the preeclamptic than in the control group. We found a significant inverse correlation between CIMT and FMD in the preeclamptic group, but no difference in lipid profiles and insulin resistance between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with a history of severe preeclampsia exhibit early structural and functional preatherosclerotic vascular impairment, which might explain their higher risk of future cardiovascular disease.
Istanbul Medeniyet University, Goztepe Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Gokhan
G
Goynumer
Nese
N
Yucel
Ertan
E
Adali
Temel
T
Tan
Erdem
E
Baskent
Cihan
C
Karadag
D000328:Adult; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014664:Vasodilation