Flow-Mediated Vasodilation Is Not Attenuated in Hypertensive Pregnancies Despite Biochemical Signs of Inflammation

Background. Our objective was to evaluate endothelial function and markers of inflammation during and after pregnancy in normal pregnancies compared to pregnancies complicated with hypertension or preeclampsia (PE). Methods and Results. We measured endothelium-dependent brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in 32 women with normal pregnancy and in 28 women whose pregnancy was complicated with hypertensive disorder in the second half of pregnancy and minimum 3-month postpartum. Enhancement of endothelial function was greater in hypertensive than normal pregnancies, the mean FMD% being 11.0% versus 8.8% during pregnancy (P = 0.194) and 8.0% versus 7.9% postpartum (P = 0.978). Concentrations of markers of inflammation were markedly increased in pregnant hypertensive group compared to those after delivery (hsCRP 4.5 versus 0.80 mg/L, P = 0.023, IL-6 2.1 versus 1.2 pg/mL, P = 0.006; TNF-α 1.9 versus 1.5 pg/mL, P = 0.030). There were no statistically significant associations between the markers of inflammation and FMD. Conclusions. Brachial artery FMD was not attenuated in the third trimester hypertensive pregnancies compared to normal pregnancies, whereas circulating concentrations of hsCRP and IL-6 and TNF-α reacted to hypertensive complications

Carotid artery elasticity decreases during pregnancy - the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study

BACKGROUND: The aims were to evaluate the effect of pregnancy on carotid artery elasticity and determine the associations between maternal lipids, endothelial function and arterial elasticity during pregnancy. METHODS: We examined 99 pregnant and 99 matched non-pregnant control women as part of a population-based prospective cohort study. Carotid artery elasticity indexes; carotid artery distensibility (CAD), Young's elastic modulus (YEM) and stiffness index (SI) as well as brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) were assessed using ultrasound; serum lipid levels were also determined. RESULTS: SI was 57% and YEM 75% higher and CAD 36% lower in the third trimester group than the corresponding values in the first trimester group. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in women at the end of the pregnancy than at the beginning of pregnancy (P < 0.001) and in controls (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, gestational age was the only independent correlate of arterial elasticity in pregnant women. In controls, age (P ≤ 0.001) and common carotid diameter (P = 0.001-0.029) were associated with SI, YEM and CAD. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed that carotid artery elasticity declined towards the end of the pregnancy; this neither is straight correlating with maternal hyperlipidemia or the diameter of the carotid artery nor is it associated with changes in endothelial function.BioMed Central open acces

Introduction. Education and the making of the Nordic welfare states.

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Primary structures of two protamine 2 variants (St2a and St2b) from stallion spermatozoa

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Need for insulin to control gestational diabetes is reflected in the ambulatory arterial stiffness index

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim was to evaluate the metabolic profile in conjunction with vascular function using the ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) in women with uncomplicated pregnancies and in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Plasma glucose, lipids, HOMA –IR (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance) and AASI, as obtained from 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in third trimester pregnancy and at three months postpartum, were measured in three groups of women: controls (N = 32), women with GDM on diet (N = 42) and women with GDM requiring insulin treatment (N = 10).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Women with GDM had poorer glycemic control and higher HOMA-IR during and after pregnancy and their total and LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels were significantly higher after pregnancy than in the controls. After delivery, there was an improvement in AASI from 0.26 ± 0.10 to 0.17 ± 0.09 (P = 0.002) in women with GDM on diet, but not in women with GDM receiving insulin whose AASI tended to worsen after delivery from 0.30 ± 0.23 to 0.33 ± 0.09 (NS), then being significantly higher than in the other groups (P = 0.001-0.047).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Women with GDM had more unfavorable lipid profile and higher blood glucose values at three months after delivery, the metabolic profile being worst in women requiring insulin. Interestingly, the metabolic disturbances at three months postpartum were accompanied by a tendency towards arterial stiffness to increase in women requiring insulin.</p