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[Fetal programming of cardiovascular disease: new causes and underlying mechanisms]

C Sartori1, E Rexhaj, S F Rimoldi

  • 1Département de médecine interne CHUV, Lausanne. claudio.sartori@chuv.ch

Revue Medicale Suisse
|October 4, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Early life health events, like perinatal hypoxemia and preeclampsia, are linked to adult cardiovascular disease. Assisted reproductive technologies may also increase risks for vascular dysfunction and early arteriosclerosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Developmental Biology
  • Reproductive Medicine

Background:

  • Early life pathologic events are associated with adult cardiovascular disease.
  • Conditions like perinatal hypoxemia and preeclampsia can lead to long-term endothelial dysfunction.
  • Offspring of assisted reproductive technologies exhibit vascular dysfunction and early arteriosclerosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the link between early life events and adult cardiovascular disease.
  • To investigate the role of assisted reproductive technologies in fetal programming of cardiovascular disease.
  • To understand the pathophysiological mechanisms, including oxidative stress and epigenetic alterations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on perinatal conditions and cardiovascular outcomes.
  • Analysis of studies on offspring of assisted reproductive technologies.
  • Examination of animal models investigating oxidative stress and epigenetic factors.

Main Results:

  • Transient perinatal hypoxemia can cause exaggerated hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.
  • Preeclampsia predisposes offspring to pulmonary and systemic endothelial dysfunction.
  • Assisted reproductive technologies are associated with generalized vascular dysfunction and early arteriosclerosis.

Conclusions:

  • Early life insults can program cardiovascular disease development later in life.
  • Oxidative stress and epigenetic alterations are implicated in fetal programming of cardiovascular disease.
  • Further research is needed to mitigate these risks.

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