title: Role of birth weight and postnatal growth on pulse wave velocity in teenagers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low birth weight and accelerated postnatal growth appear to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and cardiovascular disease in adulthood. The aim of the present study was to characterize the factors determining pulse wave velocity (PWV) in teenagers and, in particular, to verify the relationship with birth weight, postnatal growth, timing of adiposity rebound, lifestyle, and hemodynamic parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Carotid-femoral and carotid-radial pulse wave velocities of 558 healthy teenagers (age range: 16.2-19.9 years) were determined by means of a PulsePen tonometer. Birth weight and gestational age were obtained from obstetrical records, and data regarding postnatal growth were obtained from pediatric clinical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No change in aortic PWV was found in association with birth weight, postnatal growth, and timing of adiposity rebound. However, the study showed a strong association between accelerated growth from 0 to 12 months and carotid-radial PWV (trend: p = .02). Subjects with birth weight values <2,500 g showed higher values of upper limb PWV (p < .05) and higher values of diastolic and mean arterial pressure (p < .05). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that mean arterial pressure, age, and height were the main independent factors determining aortic PWV in this young population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that there is no linear correlation between birth weight and hemodynamic parameters in teenagers; however, subjects characterized by very low birth weight and accelerated postnatal weight gain appear to demonstrate increased upper limb PWV and diastolic and mean arterial pressure values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, S. Luca Hospital, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy. psalvi.md@gmail.com
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salvi
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Revera
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Joly
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reusz
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iaia
authors.forename: Salim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benkhedda
authors.forename: Ahcene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chibane
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parati
authors.forename: Athanase
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benetos
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Temmar
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000502:physiology; D048788:Growth and Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000502:physiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult