title: Carotid arterial intima–media thickness and arterial stiffness  in pre-eclampsia: analysis with a radiofrequency ultrasound  technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Whether arterial elasticity is reduced in preeclampsia has been investigated only rarely. This study aimed to characterize in vivo the carotid arterial intima–media thickness (IMT) and mechanical properties in women with pre-eclampsia by employing a radiofrequency ultrasound technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 22 late-onset pre-eclamptic pregnant women and 28 normotensive pregnant women who were matched for age (29 ± 6 vs. 27 ± 3, P=0.09) and gestational age (36.0 ± 3.2 vs. 35.8 ± 2.4 weeks, P=0.802). All women were nulliparous with singleton pregnancy. The pre-eclamptic women had a significantly higher arterial pressure than did the normotensive women (P<0.0001). All women underwent right common carotid arterial measurements with an ultrasound machine equipped with automatic Quality IMT (QIMT) and Quality Arterial Stiffness (QAS) capability. At follow-up examination 18 months after parturition, measurements were repeated in 10 of the pre-eclamptic women and 11 of the normotensive women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In pre-eclamptic compared with normotensive pregnancy, carotid arterial IMT (459 ± 95 vs. 351 ± 85 μm, P=0.0001), internal diameter (7.8 ± 0.5 vs. 7.2 ± 0.4 mm, P<0.0001), pulse wave velocity (7.1 ± 1.7 vs. 6.0 ± 1.5 m/s, P=0.007), augmentation index (7.9 ± 9.2 vs. −5.0 ± 5.6%, P<0.0001) and arterial wall tension (55.0 ± 6.5 vs. 38.6 ± 4.9 mmHg/cm, P<0.0001) were significantly greater, and the distensibility coefficient (0.020 ± 0.009 vs. 0.029 ± 0.011 1/kPa, P=0.006) was significantly smaller, remaining so after adjusting for body mass index and carotid arterial pressure. Eighteen months after parturition, carotid arterial internal diameter, pressure and wall tension remained greater in the pre-eclamptic group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carotid arterial remodeling, including changes in arterial internal diameter and wall thickness, and arterial stiffening occur in pre-eclampsia but this may reverse, to some extent, postpartum. QIMT and QAS techniques together could provide a comprehensive assessment of carotid arterial remodeling.
authors: L J
authors: LJ
authors: Yuan
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Xue
authors: Y Y
authors: YY
authors: Duan
authors: T S
authors: TS
authors: Cao
authors: H G
authors: HG
authors: Yang
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult