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Biwer LA, Man JJ, Camarda ND, Carvajal BV, Karumanchi SA, Jaffe IZ. Prior Exposure to Experimental Preeclampsia Increases Atherosclerotic Plaque Inflammation in Atherogenic Mice-Brief Report. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:946-953. [PMID: 38450510 PMCID: PMC10978246 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.320474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women with a history of preeclampsia have evidence of premature atherosclerosis and increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke compared with women who had a normotensive pregnancy. Whether this is due to common risk factors or a direct impact of prior preeclampsia exposure has never been tested in a mouse atherosclerosis model. METHODS Pregnant LDLR-KO (low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout; n=35) female mice were randomized in midgestation to sFlt1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1)-expressing adenovirus or identical control adenovirus. Postpartum, mice were fed high-fat diet for 8 weeks to induce atherogenesis. Comparison between the control and preeclampsia models was made for metabolic parameters, atherosclerosis burden and composition by histology, plaque inflammation by flow cytometry, and aortic cytokines and inflammatory markers using a cytokine array. RESULTS In pregnant LDLR-KO mice, sFlt1 adenovirus significantly induced serum sFlt1, blood pressure, renal endotheliosis, and decreased pup viability. After 8 weeks of postpartum high fat feeding, body weight, fasting glucose, plasma cholesterol, HDL (high-density lipoprotein), and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) were not significantly different between groups with no change in aortic root plaque size, lipid content, or necrotic core area. Flow cytometry demonstrated significantly increased CD45+ aortic arch leukocytes and CD3+T cells and aortic lysate contained more CCL (CC motif chemokine ligand) 22 and fetuin A and decreased expression of IGFBP6 (insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 6) and CCL21 in preeclampsia-exposed mice compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS In atherogenic LDLR-KO mice, exposure to sFlt1-induced preeclampsia during pregnancy increases future atherosclerotic plaque inflammation, supporting the concept that preeclampsia directly exacerbates atherosclerotic inflammation independent of preexisting risk factors. This mechanism may contribute to ischemic vascular disease in women after preeclampsia pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A. Biwer
- Molecular Cardiology Research Center, Tufts Medical Center, Boston MA
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Joshua J. Man
- Molecular Cardiology Research Center, Tufts Medical Center, Boston MA
| | | | | | | | - Iris Z. Jaffe
- Molecular Cardiology Research Center, Tufts Medical Center, Boston MA
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2
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Naessen T, Einarsson G, Henrohn D, Wikström G. Peripheral Vascular Ageing in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension as Assessed by Common Carotid Artery Intima Thickness and Intima/Media Thickness Ratio: An Investigation Using Non-Invasive High-Resolution Ultrasound. Heart Lung Circ 2023; 32:338-347. [PMID: 36550005 DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2022.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH; World Heath Organization [WHO] Group 1) is associated with increased pulmonary arterial pressure and resistance, with pulmonary vascular remodelling. The vascular anatomy of the systemic arteries has been less well studied. METHOD Nineteen (19) patients with PAH, confirmed by right heart catheterisation (RHC), 14 patients with left ventricular heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (LVrEF), and 30 healthy subjects were enrolled. Common carotid artery (CCA) intima thickness, intima/media (I/M) thickness ratio, and intima-media thickness (IMT) were assessed using non-invasive ultrasound (22 MHz centre frequency). RESULTS The CCA intima thickness was correlated with several RHC variables (all p<0.05). The intima was 56% thicker (+0.05 mm; 95% CI 0.03, 0.06; p<0.0001) and the I/M thickness ratio was 128% greater (+0.21; 95% CI 0.13, 0.28; p<0.0001) in patients with PAH than healthy subjects. These values were also significantly higher than in patients with LVrEF. In ROC curve analysis, the c-values for CCA intima thickness (0.92) and I/M ratio (0.87), but not for IMT, correctly indicated which individuals belonged to the PAH or healthy control groups. The CCA IMT showed no corresponding significant group differences or associations and was of no use according to receiver operating curve analysis. CONCLUSIONS Patients with PAH displayed signs of peripheral vascular remodelling, challenging the common opinion that vascular changes in PAH are restricted to the lung vasculature. Correlations with cardiopulmonary variables from RHC support peripheral vascular coupling and the association with vascular ageing. Results from this pilot study warrant further confirmation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tord Naessen
- Department of Women's and Children's Health/Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Gunnar Einarsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Dan Henrohn
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gerhard Wikström
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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3
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Kockx M, Roberts L, Wang J, Tran C, Brown MA, Kritharides L. Effects of pre-eclampsia on HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux capacity after pregnancy. ATHEROSCLEROSIS PLUS 2022; 48:12-19. [PMID: 36644562 PMCID: PMC9833242 DOI: 10.1016/j.athplu.2022.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Background and aims Preeclampsia (PE) is associated with life-long increased risk of cardiovascular disease. One of the main protective functions of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is its role in reverse cholesterol transport. HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) is decreased during pregnancy in women with PE. Whether this persists postpartum is unknown. Methods Basal and transporter-specific CEC were determined 6 months postpartum in women who had a normotensive (n = 44) or a PE (n = 42) pregnancy. CEC was also measured in 23 normotensive and 20 PE women for whom samples were collected 24 months postpartum. Basal, ATP-binding cassette transporter-A1 (ABCA1)- and -G1 (ABCG1)-specific CEC were primarily determined using Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing human ABCA1 or ABCG1, and were also assessed using a J774 mouse macrophage cell line. Results ABCA1-specific CEC was significantly lower in women who had PE 6 months postpartum (0.57 ± 0.1 vs 0.53 ± 0.08; p < 0.05), whilst basal and ABCG1-specific efflux were not significantly different. cAMP-specific CEC in J774 cells was also lower 6 months after PE (0.85 ± 0.21 vs 0.75 ± 0.25, p < 0.05). Although apoA-I, apoE, plasminogen and PON-1 levels were not significantly different in women who had PE compared with controls, ABCA1 efflux did correlate with apoA-l, HDL-C and apoE levels after a normal, and with apoA-l and HDL-C levels after a PE pregnancy. ABCA1-specific efflux decreased in all women between 6 and 24 months postpartum, by 11 ± 1.6% in women who had a normotensive pregnancy and 9 ± 1.3% in women who had PE. After adjustment for apoA-I levels, there was no significant difference in ABCA1-specific efflux between the groups at 6 months postpartum and in normotensive women over time, but remained significantly different between 6 and 24 months in women who had PE. Conclusions ABCA1-mediated CEC is impaired 6 months postpartum after a PE pregnancy and decreases thereafter in both normotensive and PE pregnancies. ABCA1-mediated efflux is dynamic after pregnancy but is unlikely to explain the long-term increased CVD risk in women with PE.
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Key Words
- ABCA1, ATP-binding cassette transporter A1
- ABCG1, ATP-binding cassette transporter G1
- BMI, body mass index
- CEC, cholesterol efflux capacity
- CHO, Chinese Hamster Ovary
- CVD
- CVD, cardiovascular disease
- Cholesterol efflux capacity
- HDL, high-density lipoprotein
- LDL, Low-density lipoprotein
- PE, preeclampsia
- PON1, paraoxonase 1
- Preeclampsia
- RCT, reverse cholesterol transport
- apo, apolipoprotein
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike Kockx
- Atherosclerosis Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Repatriation General Hospital and University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia,Corresponding author.
| | - Lynne Roberts
- Women's and Children's Health, St. George Hospital, Kogarah, Sydney, Australia,St George and Sutherland Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jeffrey Wang
- Atherosclerosis Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Repatriation General Hospital and University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Collin Tran
- NSW Health Pathology, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mark A. Brown
- Department of Renal Medicine, St. George Hospital and Clinical School, University of NSW, Sydney, Australia
| | - Leonard Kritharides
- Atherosclerosis Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Repatriation General Hospital and University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia,Department of Cardiology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, Australia
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Naessen T, Bergsten P, Lundmark T, Forslund A. Obesity in adolescents associated with vascular aging - a study using ultra-high-resolution ultrasound. Ups J Med Sci 2022; 127:8676. [PMID: 35846851 PMCID: PMC9254329 DOI: 10.48101/ujms.v127.8676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity in adolescents is increasing worldwide and associated with an elevated cardiovascular risk later in life. In a group-comparative study, we investigated the association between adiposity in adolescents and signs of vascular aging and inflammation. METHODS Thirty-nine adolescents (10-18 years old), 19 with obesity and 20 with normal weight, were enrolled. The intima thickness and intima/media thickness ratio (I/M) were assessed using high-resolution ultrasound in the common carotid artery (center frequency 22 MHz) and the distal radial artery (RA; 50 MHz). Increased intima and high I/M are signs of vascular aging. Body characteristics, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), plasma lipids, and glycemic parameters were measured. RESULTS Adolescents with obesity, compared to normal-weight peers, had elevated plasma lipid, insulin c-peptide, and hs-CRP levels, the latter increasing exponentially with increasing adiposity. Obese adolescents had a thicker RA intima layer [0.005 mm; 95% confidence intervals (0.000, 0.009); P = 0.043] and a higher RA I/M [0.10; (0.040, 0.147); P < 0.0007]. Group differences for the RA I/M remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, fasting plasma insulin, and body mass index, both separately and together (P = 0.032). The RA I/M was correlated with hs-CRP, and both were correlated with the analyzed cardiovascular risk factors. Receiver operating curve c-values for RA I/M (0.86) and hs-CRP (0.90) strongly indicated correct placement in the obese or non-obese group. CONCLUSIONS Adolescents with obesity had significantly more extensive vascular aging in the muscular RA, than normal-weight peers. The findings support an inflammatory link between obesity and vascular aging in adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tord Naessen
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter Bergsten
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tobias Lundmark
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anders Forslund
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Akhter T, Wikström G, Larsson M, Bondesson U, Hedeland M, Naessen T. Dimethylarginines correlate to common carotid artery wall layer dimensions and cardiovascular risk factors in pregnant women with/without preeclampsia: A group comparative study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2021; 258:288-293. [PMID: 33498001 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2021.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Asymmetric- and symmetric dimethylarginines (ADMA, SDMA) are elevated in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific syndrome and is an independent risk factor for subsequent CVD. Aims were to investigate whether ADMA, SDMA levels and l-arginine/ADMA and l-arginine/SDMA ratios during pregnancy and their changes from pregnancy to postpartum are associated to arterial wall layer dimensions and cardiovascular risk factors in women with and without preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN Dimethylarginines were analyzed by LC-MS, and the common-carotid-artery (CCA) intima and media thicknesses were estimated using 22-MHz non-invasive ultrasonography in women with preeclampsia (cases = 48) and normal pregnancies (controls = 58) in similar gestational age, with reassessment one-year postpartum. A thick intima, thin media and high intima/media ratio (I/M) indicates a less healthy arterial wall. RESULTS The median age of cases and controls was 30 years. During pregnancy, women with preeclampsia had higher plasma ADMA, SDMA and lower l-arginine/ADMA and l-arginine/SDMA (all p < 0.01) than women with normal pregnancies. Further, ADMA, SDMA, l-arginine/ADMA and l-arginine/SDMA correlated to intima thickness (rs = 0.33/0.33/-0.33/-0.35 and p < 0.01), I/M (rs = 0.26/0.28/-0.22/-0.26 and p < 0.05) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (rs = 0.43/0.42/-0.39/-0.40 and p < 0.0001). Changes in ADMA, SDMA and l-arginine/SDMA from pregnancy to postpartum correlated to changes in intima thickness (rs = 0.22/0.32/-0.21 and p < 0.05/<0.01/<0.05), I/M (rs = 0.22/0.31/0.08 and p < 0.05/<0.01/=0.43) and MAP (rs = 0.31/0.53/-0.25 and p < 0.01/<0.001/<0.05). No correlations were found for conventional CCA intima-media-thickness. CONCLUSIONS Dimethylarginines were associated to signs of adverse effects on arterial wall layer dimensions and cardiovascular risk factors in women with and without preeclampsia, during pregnancy and to their changes from pregnancy up to one-year postpartum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tansim Akhter
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sweden.
| | | | - Marita Larsson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sweden
| | - Ulf Bondesson
- National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Department of Chemistry, Environment and Feed Hygiene, Sweden; Department of Medical Chemistry, Analytical Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Mikael Hedeland
- National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Department of Chemistry, Environment and Feed Hygiene, Sweden; Department of Medical Chemistry, Analytical Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Tord Naessen
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sweden
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Melchiorre K, Thilaganathan B, Giorgione V, Ridder A, Memmo A, Khalil A. Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Future Cardiovascular Health. Front Cardiovasc Med 2020; 7:59. [PMID: 32351977 PMCID: PMC7174679 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2020.00059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) occur in almost 10% of gestations. These women are known to have higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality later in life in comparison with parous controls who had normotensive pregnancies. Several studies have demonstrated that women with preeclampsia present in a state of segmental impaired myocardial function, biventricular chamber dysfunction, adverse biventricular remodeling, and hypertrophy, a compromised hemodynamic state and indirect echocardiographic signs of localized myocardial ischemia and fibrosis. These cardiac functional and geometric changes are known to have strong predictive value for cardiovascular disease in non-pregnant subjects. A "dose effect" response seems to regulate this relationship with severe HDP, early-onset HDP, coexistence of fetal growth disorders, and recurrence of HDP resulting in poorer cardiovascular measures. The mechanism underlying the relationship between HDP in younger women and cardiovascular disease later in life is unclear but could be explained by sharing of pre-pregnancy cardiovascular risk factors or due to a direct impact of HDP on the maternal cardiovascular system conferring a state of increased susceptibility to future metabolic or hemodynamic insults. If so, the prevention of HDP itself would become all the more urgent. Shortly after delivery, women who experienced HDP express an increased risk of classic cardiovascular risk factors such as essential hypertension, renal disease, abnormal lipid profile, and diabetes with higher frequency than controls. Within one or two decades after delivery, this group of women are more likely to experience premature cardiovascular events, such as symptomatic heart failure, myocardial ischemia, and cerebral vascular disease. Although there is general agreement that women who suffered from HDP should undertake early screening for cardiovascular risk factors in order to allow for appropriate prevention, the exact timing and modality of screening has not been standardized yet. Our findings suggest that prevention should start as early as possible after delivery by making the women aware of their increased cardiovascular risk and encouraging weight control, stop smoking, healthy diet, and daily exercise which are well-established and cost-effective prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Melchiorre
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Spirito Santo Hospital of Pescara, Pescara, Italy
| | - Basky Thilaganathan
- Fetal Medicine Unit, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Vascular Biology Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Veronica Giorgione
- Vascular Biology Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Ridder
- Vascular Biology Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alessia Memmo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Spirito Santo Hospital of Pescara, Pescara, Italy
| | - Asma Khalil
- Fetal Medicine Unit, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Vascular Biology Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Asma Khalil
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7
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Benschop L, Schelling SJ, Duvekot JJ, Roeters van Lennep JE. Cardiovascular health and vascular age after severe preeclampsia: A cohort study. Atherosclerosis 2019; 292:136-142. [PMID: 31805453 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2019.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Severe preeclampsia increases lifetime-risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). It remains unclear when this risk translates to subclinical atherosclerosis and whether this is related to cardiovascular health (CVH) after pregnancy. Our aims were (1) to determine CVH after severe preeclampsia, (2) to relate CVH to carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and (3) to relate CVH to chronological and vascular age. METHODS A prospective cohort study was performed in women with previous severe pre-eclampsia. CVH, proposed by the American Heart Association, was assessed one year after pregnancy. The CVH score (range 0-14) includes seven metrics (blood pressure, total-cholesterol, glucose, smoking, physical activity, diet and body mass index [BMI]), each weighted as poor (0), intermediate (1) or ideal (2). Vascular age was determined by CIMT. We related CVH to delta age (chronological age - vascular age). RESULTS In 244 women, the median CVH score was 10 (90% range 7.0, 13.0). Low CVH (<10) was associated with a larger CIMT than high CVH (≥12) (median 626.3 μm vs. 567.0 μm, respectively). Higher CVH was also associated with a lower vascular age (-2.0 years, 95%CI -3.3, -0.60). Women with low CVH had a larger delta age (22.5 years [90% range -3.9, 49.6) than women with high CVH (16.5 years [90% range -11.9, 43.3). CONCLUSIONS CVH is inversely related to subclinical atherosclerosis and to vascular age one year after severe preeclampsia. Especially low CVH is associated with a large difference between chronological age and vascular age. CVH counseling might provide the opportunity for timely cardiovascular prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Benschop
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sara Jc Schelling
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Johannes J Duvekot
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Kirollos S, Skilton M, Patel S, Arnott C. A Systematic Review of Vascular Structure and Function in Pre-eclampsia: Non-invasive Assessment and Mechanistic Links. Front Cardiovasc Med 2019. [PMID: 31803759 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2019.00166, 10.3389/fmed.2019.00166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia, are known to be independently associated with the development of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women. In pre-eclampsia, the placenta secretes excess anti-angiogenic factors into the maternal circulation, leading to widespread endothelial damage, and inflammation. This endothelial damage is evidenced to persist beyond the acute illness. However, whether it is permanent and responsible for the elevated rates of premature CVD seen in this at-risk group remains unclear. A systematic review of the available literature with respect to vascular structure and function prior to, during and after a pregnancy complicated by pre-eclampsia was performed. Studies non-invasively assessing vascular structure using carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), retinal microvasculature caliber, CT coronary angiogram, or coronary calcium scores were included. Vascular function was assessed using brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD), pulse wave analysis (PWA), and peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT). In total 59 articles were included (13 CIMT, 5 CTCA/Ca score, five retinal microvasculature, 27 FMD, 7 PAT, and 14 PWV/PWA), consisting of prospective and retrospective cohort, and case-control studies. Change in vascular structure was evidenced with significant increases in CIMT by 73-180 μm greater than that of non-affected women. This is tempered by other studies reporting resolution of structural changes postpartum, highlighting the need for further research. Accelerated coronary calcification and plaque deposition was identified, with greater rates of increased calcium scores and subclinical coronary artery disease shown by CTCA in women with a history of pre-eclampsia at 30 years postpartum. Impaired endothelial function was consistently reported prior to, during and immediately after pregnancy as evidenced by differences in FMD of 1.7-12.2% less than non-affected women, an increase in PWV by 13.2-26%, and reduced retinal microvascular caliber and arterial elasticity indices. The evidence was less conclusive for the persistence of long-term endothelial dysfunction. Understanding the underlying mechanistic links between pre-eclampsia and CVD is a key step to identifying targeted therapies aimed at "repairing the endothelium" and attenuating risk. This review has highlighted the need for a greater understanding of vascular structure and function following pre-eclampsia through high quality studies with large sample sizes, particularly in the longer postpartum period when clinical CVD disease starts to manifest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shady Kirollos
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael Skilton
- Boden Collaboration for Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise, and Eating Disorders, Faculty of Medicine and Health University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sanjay Patel
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Coronary Diseases, The Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Clare Arnott
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Coronary Diseases, The Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Cardiology, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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9
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Kirollos S, Skilton M, Patel S, Arnott C. A Systematic Review of Vascular Structure and Function in Pre-eclampsia: Non-invasive Assessment and Mechanistic Links. Front Cardiovasc Med 2019; 6:166. [PMID: 31803759 PMCID: PMC6873347 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2019.00166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia, are known to be independently associated with the development of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women. In pre-eclampsia, the placenta secretes excess anti-angiogenic factors into the maternal circulation, leading to widespread endothelial damage, and inflammation. This endothelial damage is evidenced to persist beyond the acute illness. However, whether it is permanent and responsible for the elevated rates of premature CVD seen in this at-risk group remains unclear. A systematic review of the available literature with respect to vascular structure and function prior to, during and after a pregnancy complicated by pre-eclampsia was performed. Studies non-invasively assessing vascular structure using carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), retinal microvasculature caliber, CT coronary angiogram, or coronary calcium scores were included. Vascular function was assessed using brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD), pulse wave analysis (PWA), and peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT). In total 59 articles were included (13 CIMT, 5 CTCA/Ca score, five retinal microvasculature, 27 FMD, 7 PAT, and 14 PWV/PWA), consisting of prospective and retrospective cohort, and case-control studies. Change in vascular structure was evidenced with significant increases in CIMT by 73–180 μm greater than that of non-affected women. This is tempered by other studies reporting resolution of structural changes postpartum, highlighting the need for further research. Accelerated coronary calcification and plaque deposition was identified, with greater rates of increased calcium scores and subclinical coronary artery disease shown by CTCA in women with a history of pre-eclampsia at 30 years postpartum. Impaired endothelial function was consistently reported prior to, during and immediately after pregnancy as evidenced by differences in FMD of 1.7–12.2% less than non-affected women, an increase in PWV by 13.2–26%, and reduced retinal microvascular caliber and arterial elasticity indices. The evidence was less conclusive for the persistence of long-term endothelial dysfunction. Understanding the underlying mechanistic links between pre-eclampsia and CVD is a key step to identifying targeted therapies aimed at “repairing the endothelium” and attenuating risk. This review has highlighted the need for a greater understanding of vascular structure and function following pre-eclampsia through high quality studies with large sample sizes, particularly in the longer postpartum period when clinical CVD disease starts to manifest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shady Kirollos
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael Skilton
- Boden Collaboration for Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise, and Eating Disorders, Faculty of Medicine and Health University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sanjay Patel
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Coronary Diseases, The Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Clare Arnott
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Coronary Diseases, The Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Cardiology, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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10
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Santulli G, Al-Mallah MH. Pre-eclampsia and future cardiovascular diseases: How to assess the risk? Atherosclerosis 2019; 290:136-137. [PMID: 31300163 PMCID: PMC6842050 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2019.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Santulli
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology), Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, New York, NY, USA; Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), The "Norman Fleischer" Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mouaz H Al-Mallah
- Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
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