title: Preeclampsia and Preterm Birth Associated With Visceral Adiposity in Early Pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if an increasing amount of visceral adipose tissue, measured by ultrasound in early pregnancy, is associated with a higher risk of preeclampsia and preterm birth (PTB).
  
  
  METHODS
  We completed a prospective cohort study of 463 pregnant women. Maternal visceral adiposity tissue (VAT) depth was measured by ultrasound at 11 to 14 weeks' gestation. Relative risks (RR) were adjusted for age, parity, chronic hypertension, pre-pregnancy BMI, and use of acetylsalicylic acid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of preeclampsia was much higher at quintile (Q) 5 of VAT depth (9.8%) than at Q1 to Q4 (1.6%) but not significantly so in the adjusted model (RR 3.39, 95% CI 0.86 to 13.39). The adjusted RR of PTB was significantly elevated at Q5 VAT depth (6.53, 95% CI 1.47 to 6.53), as was preeclampsia with PTB (16.91, 95% CI 1.24 to 231.07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher amounts of VAT in pregnancy may play a direct role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, including early onset preeclampsia necessitating preterm delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON; Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON.
authors.forename: Joel G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON.
authors.forename: Leanne R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: De Souza
authors.affiliation: Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON.
authors.forename: Alison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON.
authors.forename: Philip W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Connelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproduction, Université Laval, Québec, QC.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bujold
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON.
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008423:Maternal Age; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010298:Parity; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D001241:Aspirin
keywords: Visceral adiposity; hypertension; obesity; preeclampsia; pregnancy