Increased carotid artery stiffness after preeclampsia in a cross‐sectional study of postpartum women

• Published in: Physiological reports Vol. 10; no. 8; pp. e15276 - n/a
• Main Authors: Barr, Logan C., Herr, Julia E., Hétu, Marie‐France, Smith, Graeme N., Johri, Amer M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.04.2022; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Blood pressure; Body mass index; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular Diseases; Carotid arteries; Carotid Arteries - diagnostic imaging; Carotid artery; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Cholesterol; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes; Female; Flow velocity; Gynecology; Health sciences; Heart rate; Humans; Hypertension; Maternal & child health; Original; Personal health; Physiology; Postpartum; postpartum period; Postpartum Period - physiology; Pre-Eclampsia; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Risk Factors; Ultrasonic imaging; Variables; vascular stiffness; Vascular Stiffness - physiology; Veins & arteries; Velocity; Womens health; Canada; carotid arteries; preeclampsia; vascular stiffness; postpartum period
• ISSN: 2051-817X
• DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15276

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive obstetrical complication associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. Carotid artery functional assessments allow for identification of subclinical vascular dysfunction. This cross‐sectional study measured carotid artery functional indices in healthy women with a recent pregnancy complicated by PE, versus women with a prior uncomplicated pregnancy. Women with a history of PE (N = 30) or an uncomplicated pregnancy (N = 30), were recruited between 6 months and 5 years postpartum. Left and right carotid artery ultrasound measured carotid intima media thickness, plaque burden, peak systolic velocity, end diastolic flow velocity and carotid far‐wall circumferential strain (FWCS). Carotid FWCS is inversely related to vessel stiffness, where a decrease in FWCS indicates increased vessel stiffness. Right‐side FWCS did not differ between women with a history of PE versus normotensive pregnancy. Left carotid artery FWCS was lower in formerly preeclamptic women after adjustment for diameter, pulse pressure, and heart rate compared to women following an uncomplicated pregnancy (3.35 ± 1.08 × 10−3 vs. 4.46 ± 1.40 × 10−3; p = 0.003). Those with prior severe PE had the greatest decrease in FWCS adjusted to diameter, pulse pressure, and heart rate compared to healthy controls (p = 0.02). Adjusted FWCS and total serum cholesterol were independent indicators of PE history when present in a logistic regression model with confounding variables including age, body mass index, and resting blood pressure. Further investigation is needed to elucidate if FWCS can be used as a risk stratification tool for future cardiovascular disease following a pregnancy complicated by PE. A history of PE is associated with decreased left FWCS (increased left carotid artery stiffness). Carotid artery strain is decreased in woman following a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia, compared to women with uncomplicated pregnancy. No differences were observed with respect to plaque burden, blood flow velocity, and carotid intima‐media thickness. Created with Biorender (www.biorender.com).