title: PP048. Carotid intima-media-thickness in the first trimester as a predictor of preeclampsia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carotid intima media thickness (IMT) is an established marker for endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to assess IMT in the first trimester and it's predictive value for preeclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured IMT on 51 non-pregnant controls (29±4 years) and 601 pregnant women (30±6 years) in the 1. (12.1±2.5 wks; T1), 2. (22.6±2.3 wks; T2), 3. (33.1±3.8 wks; T3) trimester, and postpartum (19.1±15.3 wks; pp) with high-resolution ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  38 pregnant women developed gestational hypertension (GH) and 143 preeclampsia (PE). IMT [mean (mm)±SD] of women who later developed PE (28±6 years) was significantly greater (p<0,03) at all visits compared to 420 women who remained normotensive during pregnancy (T1: 0.58±0.1 vs. 0.34±0.16; T2: 0,.3±0.1 vs. 0.34±0.1; T3: 0.49±0.09 vs. 0.34±0.13; pp: 0.56±0.31 vs. 0.39±0.14) and non-pregnant controls (0.44±0.08). IMT of women who later developed GH was not different compared to normotensive pregnant and non-pregnant controls (T1: 0.42±0.20; T2: 0.35±0.18; T3: 0.49±0.09; pp: 0.44±0.19). Using a cut-off value of >0.5 mm we would be able to predict PE already in the first trimester with a positive predictive value of 45.5 % and a sensitivity of 76.9 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IMT is increased starting from first trimester onwards in women who later developed preeclampsia but not in women developing gestational hypertension. In high risk pregnancies measurement of IMT could represent an easy to use early detection method to predict preeclampsia noninvasively.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brueckmann
authors.forename: Christin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Seeliger
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schlembach
authors.forename: Ekkehard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schleußner