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Preeclampsia Is Associated with Increased Central Aortic Pressure, Elastic Arteries Stiffness and Wave Reflections,

Juan Torrado1, Ignacio Farro1, Yanina Zócalo1

  • 1Centro Universitario de Investigación, Innovación y Diagnóstico Arterial (CUiiDARTE), Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Republic University, 2125 General Flores, 11800 Montevideo, Uruguay.

International Journal of Hypertension
|September 10, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Preeclampsia (PE) is linked to endothelial dysfunction (EF), affecting both resting and recruitable arterial function. This study reveals elevated blood pressure and arterial stiffness in PE, highlighting impaired endothelial responses.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Endothelial function (EF) alterations are suspected in preeclampsia (PE).
  • Complementary analyses are needed to confirm the association between EF and PE.
  • Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), low-flow-mediated constriction (L-FMC), and pulse wave velocity (PWVcr) offer insights into endothelial recruitability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess central arterial parameters and "basal and recruitable" EF in healthy, gestational hypertension (GH), and preeclampsia (PE) pregnant women.
  • To compare endothelial function and arterial stiffness across different hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Main Methods:

  • Evaluated aortic blood pressure (BP), wave reflection (AIx@75), aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVcf), carotid-radial PWV (PWVcr), and arterial stiffness in nonhypertensive (HP), GH, and PE groups.
  • Measured brachial FMD, L-FMC, and hyperemic-related PWVcr changes.

Main Results:

  • Preeclampsia (PE) group exhibited elevated aortic BP and AIx@75, with stiffer elastic arteries.
  • HP group showed normal PWVcr response post-cuff deflation; GH had a blunted response, and PE showed a tendency towards increase.
  • Maximal FMD and L-FMC were highest in HP, followed by GH; PE demonstrated impaired arterial constriction.

Conclusions:

  • Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by increased aortic BP, wave reflections, and elastic artery stiffness.
  • PE is associated with both "resting and recruitable" endothelial dysfunctions.
  • Impaired endothelial function is a key feature of preeclampsia (PE).

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