PP083. Maternal pre-eclampsia and bone mineral density of the adult offspring

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Pediatrics
• Bone Health Research

Background:

• Preterm birth, particularly at very low birth weight (VLBW), is associated with adverse cardiometabolic outcomes and reduced bone mineral density (BMD) in adulthood.
• Pre-eclampsia (PE), a common complication of pregnancy, contributes to preterm birth and is independently linked to cardiometabolic risks in offspring, but its effect on offspring BMD remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between maternal pre-eclampsia and bone mineral density (BMD) in adult offspring.

Main Methods:

• The Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults cohort was utilized, including 144 VLBW and 139 term-born individuals.
• BMD was measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry in participants aged 18-27 years, with Z scores used to compare bone density relative to age and sex expectations.
• Subgroup analysis identified offspring born following pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia (32 VLBW, 11 term).

Main Results:

• Adults born following maternal pre-eclampsia exhibited significantly higher lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD Z scores compared to unexposed peers within both VLBW and term-born groups.
• Specifically, VLBW adults exposed to PE had higher lumbar spine (p=0.002) and femoral neck (p=0.003) Z scores.
• Term-born adults exposed to PE also showed higher femoral neck Z scores (p=0.02), although lumbar spine differences were not significant (p=0.2).

Conclusions:

• Exposure to maternal pre-eclampsia during gestation is associated with enhanced bone mineral density in young adulthood.
• These findings suggest a potential long-term beneficial effect of pre-eclampsia on the bone health of offspring.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this protective association.