title: Follow up of intima-media thickness after severe early-onset preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Early-onset preeclampsia is associated with premature cardiovascular disease. We previously demonstrated that femoral intima-media thickness (IMT) and markers of cardiovascular disease were increased in women 1 year after early-onset preeclampsia. The current study measured (progression of) IMT, cardiovascular disease risk factors and markers of endothelial cell dysfunction 4-5 years postpartum in the same women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Formerly preeclamptic women.
  
  
  METHODS
  IMT of carotid and femoral arteries was measured by ultrasound, as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. Various conventional cardiovascular risk factors were determined, as well as serum markers of endothelial cell activation and inflammation. Values were compared with those 1 year after the first (preeclamptic) pregnancy.
  We included 17 formerly preeclamptic women (cases) and 16 controls. Mean interval between index delivery and day of investigation was 4.7 years for the cases and 4.3 years for the controls. Neither differences nor progression of IMT was observed between the cases and the controls. Increased blood pressure, body mass index, serum triglycerides and inflammatory markers were found in the cases compared with the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IMT was not increased in women with an almost 5-year history of severe preeclampsia as an indicator of increased cardiovascular risk. This study suggests a transient adaptive response of the arteries in formerly preeclamptic women. The persistence of cardiovascular risk factors in this group emphasizes the need for long-term follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blaauw
authors.forename: Esteban T D
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Souwer
authors.forename: Sophie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Coffeng
authors.forename: Andries J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Jasper J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van Doormaal
authors.forename: Marijke M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Faas
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: van Pampus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Preeclampsia; cardiovascular disease risk factors; follow up; intima-media thickness; markers of endothelial cell dysfunction