Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Assessment of Maternal Vascular Remodeling During Pregnancy in the Mouse Uterus
Published on: December 5, 2015
Circulating Cardiovascular Biomarkers 1-3 Years Following Hypertensive Pregnancy Disorders: Associations With
Kristina Klepp1,2,3, Kjartan Moe1,2,4, Daniel P Jacobsen1,2
1Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
None:
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) confer increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk postpartum. Screening methods targeting women with increased risk are lacking, limiting personalized follow-up. Circulating biomarkers may assist CVD risk stratification. We aimed to assess whether circulating biomarkers were associated with measures of cardiovascular structure and function following HDP and normotensive pregnancies (controls). We examined 275 women 1-3 years postpartum (176 following HDP and 99 parous controls). Circulating biomarkers (hs-CRP, non-HDL cholesterol, glucose, eGFR, cTnT, NT-proBNP, GDF-15, sHLA-G, SAA1) and cardiovascular function and structure measures were examined [pulse wave velocity (PWV), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and echocardiography]. Group differences were tested by Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square. Associations were assessed by univariate regression analyses. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Women following HDP displayed significantly higher rates of hypertension (5% vs. 0%) and metabolic syndrome (7% vs. 1%) than controls. Circulating biomarker levels were similar between study groups. In univariate regression analyses for the prior HDP group, non-HDL cholesterol was significantly associated with PWV and CIMT. Additionally, glucose and hs-CRP were significantly associated with PWV. These associations were not reproduced for controls, except for non-HDL cholesterol which was significantly associated with CIMT. In conclusion, women following HDP and normotensive pregnancies had similar postpartum levels of circulating biomarkers, but circulating biomarkers were significantly associated with measures of arterial stiffness (PWV and CIMT) in women with prior HDP. Our findings support current guidelines recommending CVD follow-up after HDP. Non-HDL cholesterol, glucose and hs-CRP may possibly help refining personalized cardiovascular follow-up postpartum.
Related Concept Videos
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Hypertension II: Pathophysiology
Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure