title: Homocysteinemia After Hypertensive Pregnancy Disorders at Term.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Results from a number of long-term follow-up studies have suggested that hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. More recently, this putative relationship has been substantiated with findings of elevated cardiovascular risk factors, such as lipid profiles and glucose, in women with a history of hypertensive pregnancy disorders. Homocysteine is a sensitive indicator of increased risk but data on homocysteine levels in women with a history of hypertensive pregnancy disorders are inconsistent.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cohort study included 279 women with a history of hypertensive pregnancy disorders at term and 85 women with a history of uncomplicated pregnancies who participated in the Hypitat Risk Assessment Study (HyRAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples for total homocysteine determination were taken 2.5 years postpartum. Homocysteine levels were determined in plasma using an immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with a history of hypertensive pregnancy disorders had significant higher median homocysteine levels (10.66 μmol/L) 2.5 years postpartum compared with women with a history uncomplicated pregnancies (9.82 μmol/L; p=0.002). Women with a history of hypertensive pregnancy disorders had a higher risk of having a homocysteine level in the highest quartile (odds ratio 3.4, 95% confidence interval 1.5-7.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At 2.5 years postpartum, women with a history hypertensive pregnancy disorders had higher homocysteine levels than women who had uncomplicated pregnancies. Although higher homocysteine levels might be a potential link between a history of hypertensive pregnancy disorders and increased cardiovascular disease risk later in life, the clinical implications remain an area for future research.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VU University Medical Centre , Amsterdam, The Netherlands .|2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zaans Medical Centre , Zaandam, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Sanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Center Haaglanden , The Hague, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Wietske
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hermes
authors.affiliation: 4 Labor für Klinische Biochemie und Stoffwechsel , Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Freiburg, Germany .
authors.forename: Henk J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Blom
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Clinical Chemistry, VU University Medical Centre , Amsterdam, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Annemieke C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Heijboer
authors.affiliation: 6 Division of Woman and Baby, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franx
authors.affiliation: 7 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Van Pampus
authors.affiliation: 8 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Leiden , Leiden, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Kitty W M
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Bloemenkamp
authors.affiliation: 9 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Groningen , Groningen, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Corine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koopmans
authors.affiliation: 10 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Adelaide , Adelaide, Australia .
authors.forename: Ben Willem J
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Mol
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VU University Medical Centre , Amsterdam, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Christianne J M
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: De Groot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine