title: Vascular ultrasound measures before pregnancy and pregnancy complications: A prospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between pre-pregnancy indicators of cardiovascular risk and pregnancy complications and outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 359 female participants in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study were linked with the national birth registry. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD; maximum change in the left brachial artery diameter after rest and hyperemia); carotid intima-media thickness (IMT); Young's elastic modulus (YEM); and carotid artery distensibility (Cdist) at the visit prior to the pregnancy were examined as predictors of hypertensive disorders, birthweight, and gestational age using multivariable linear regression with adjustment for confounders (age, BMI, smoking, and socioeconomic status).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No relations were seen between FMD, IMT, or the stiffness indices, and hypertensive disorders. Higher pre-pregnancy FMD was associated with lower gestational age, while increased Cdist was associated with reduced birthweight-for-gestational-age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some cardiovascular ultrasound measures of pre-pregnancy may predict pregnancy complications, but the association is likely to be small.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Epidemiology , Tulane University School of Public Health , New Orleans , Louisiana , USA.
authors.forename: Emily W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Harville
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medicine, University of Turku and Division of Medicine , Turku University Hospital , Turku , Finland.|c Murdoch Childrens Research Institute , Parkville , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juonala
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medicine, University of Turku and Division of Medicine , Turku University Hospital , Turku , Finland.
authors.forename: Jorma S A
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Viikari
authors.affiliation: d Department of Clinical Psychology , Tampere University Hospital and University of Tampere , Tampere , Finland.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kähönen
authors.affiliation: e The Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku and Department of Clinical Physiology , Turku University Hospital , Turku , Finland.
authors.forename: Olli T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Raitakari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Birth; brachial artery; hypertension; infant; low birth weight; pregnancy-induced; premature; ultrasonography