MRI-derived aortic characteristics after pregnancy: The AMBITYON study

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Reproductive Health
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Pregnancy and its complications are linked to increased arterial stiffness, even in young women.
• Parity, the condition of having given birth, is a factor to consider in cardiovascular health.
• Early detection of atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness is crucial for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of parity on aortic characteristics derived from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).
• To evaluate aortic wall thickness (AWT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) as early markers of atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness in healthy women aged 25–35.
• To investigate potential differences in these vascular parameters between nulliparous and parous women.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, population-based cohort study (AMBITYON) involving 68 healthy women aged 25–35.
• Participants were categorized as nulliparous (no births), primiparous (one birth), or multiparous (multiple births).
• Descending thoracic aortic wall thickness (AWT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured using 3.0T CMR, with adjustments for age and systolic blood pressure.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in aortic wall thickness (AWT) were observed between nulliparous and parous women (1.6 mm ± 0.2 mm vs. 1.6 mm ± 0.2 mm, p=0.79).
• Pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements also showed no significant difference between nulliparous and parous women (4.5 m/s ± 0.7 m/s vs. 4.5 m/s ± 0.8 m/s, p=0.78).
• Adjustments for age and systolic blood pressure did not alter these findings. Percentile-based analysis indicated a non-significant trend towards increased AWT and PWV in parous women.

Conclusions:

• Direct CMR measurements of aortic AWT and PWV reveal no significant differences between nulliparous and parous women.
• These findings suggest a limited impact of pregnancy on arterial stiffness and early atherosclerosis markers in this cohort.
• Further research may be warranted to explore subtle or long-term effects of parity on vascular health.