Subjects Conceived through Assisted Reproductive Technologies Display Normal Arterial Stiffness

• Published in: Diagnostics Vol. 12; no. 11; p. 2763
• Main Authors: Langer, Magdalena, Li, Pengzhu, Vilsmaier, Theresa, Kramer, Marie, Sciuk, Franziska, Kolbinger, Brenda, Jakob, André, Rogenhofer, Nina, Haas, Nikolaus Alexander, Dalla-Pozza, Robert, Thaler, Christian, Oberhoffer, Felix Sebastian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 11.11.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Abdomen; abdominal aorta; Adults; Age; Analysis; arterial stiffness; assisted reproductive technologies; assisted reproductive technologies; abdominal aorta; common carotid artery; two-dimensional speckle tracking; arterial stiffness; peak circumferential strain; pulse wave velocity; Blood pressure; Body mass index; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Carotid arteries; common carotid artery; Coronary vessels; Fertilization in vitro; Gestational diabetes; Health aspects; Heart; Medicine (General); Morbidity; Mortality; Overweight; Patient outcomes; peak circumferential strain; Physiology, Pathological; Pregnancy; Prevention; R5-920; Reproductive technologies; Reproductive technology; Risk factors; Software; two-dimensional speckle tracking; Ultrasonic imaging; Veins & arteries; Germany; Netherlands; arterial stiffness; peak circumferential strain; abdominal aorta; two-dimensional speckle tracking; pulse wave velocity; assisted reproductive technologies; common carotid artery
• ISSN: 2075-4418; 2075-4418
• DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12112763

Multiple studies reported signs of vascular dysfunction in subjects conceived through assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The assessment of arterial stiffness in this cohort seems beneficial for risk stratification. Regional arterial stiffness of the abdominal aorta (AAO) and the common carotid arteries (CCA) was evaluated sonographically using two-dimensional speckle tracking in subjects conceived through ART and spontaneously conceived peers. Global arterial stiffness was assessed utilizing an oscillometric blood pressure device. The cohorts of 67 ART subjects and 86 spontaneously conceived peers (11.31 (8.10–18.20) years vs. 11.85 (8.72–18.27) years, p = 0.43) did not differ significantly in parameters of regional and global arterial stiffness. In the sub-analysis of study participants ≥10 years of age, markers of arterial stiffness did not display significant differences between both groups. However, a higher tendency of brachial systolic blood pressure was demonstrated in the ART cohort compared to the control group (120.18 ± 9.57 mmHg vs. 116.55 ± 8.05 mmHg, p = 0.050). The present study displayed no significant differences in arterial stiffness between ART subjects and spontaneously conceived peers. Moreover, this study suggests that arterial stiffness does not elevate more profoundly in ART subjects with increasing age. Further studies are required for a more detailed cardiovascular risk stratification of the ART cohort.