Ultraschall Med 2016; 37 - SL9_1
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1587751

Carotid intima-media-thickness precedes the clinical onset of preeclampsia and persists postpartum: A longitudinal study

A Brückmann 1, C Seeliger 2, T Lehmann 3, D Schlembach 4, E Schleußner 2
  • 1GesaTal Medical Center, Department of Prenatal Diagnosis and Preventive Medicine, Erfurt, Germany
  • 2University Hospital Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Department of Obstetrics, Jena, Germany
  • 3University Hospital Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Institute of Medical Statistics, Jena, Germany
  • 4Vivantes Hospital, Department of Obstetrics, Berlin-Neukölln, Germany

Purpose: Carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) is an established marker for endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk. This prospective study aimed to assess differences in cIMT before the onset of preeclampsia and postpartum.

Material and methods: We longitudinally measured cIMT in 417 pregnant women (31 ± 5 years), in the first (T1: 11.4 ± 1.9 wks), second (T2: 21.5 ± 2.3 wks) and third trimester (T3: 32.5 ± 2.9 wks) and postpartum (21.6 ± 23.6 wks), using high-resolution ultrasound and an automated reading program. Comparisons were made with univariate ANOVA, data are expressed as mean (SD).

Results: 56 women (32 ± 5 years) who later developed preeclampsia had a higher cIMT [T1: 0.47 ± 0.16/T2: 0.45 ± 0.14/T3: 0.43 ± 0.12 (p < 0.01)] throughout pregnancy compared with 618 women who did not develop preeclampsia (NP) [T1: 0.32 ± 0.09/T2: 0.33 ± 0.10/T3: 0.33 ± 0.09], adjusted for age, body mass index, mean arterial pressure and family history of cardiovascular disease. This difference in cIMT persisted postpartum [PE: 0.55 ± 0.11/NP: 0.36 ± 0.10 (p < 0.01)].

Conclusion: This study documents increased carotid arterial remodeling, by measuring intima media thickness, in women who later developed preeclampsia. This difference preceded the clinical signs of preeclampsia and persisted postpartum.