Vascular ultrasound measures before pregnancy and pregnancy complications: A prospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVES
To examine the relationship between pre-pregnancy indicators of cardiovascular risk and pregnancy complications and outcomes.


STUDY DESIGN
Data from 359 female participants in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study were linked with the national birth registry. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD; maximum change in the left brachial artery diameter after rest and hyperemia); carotid intima-media thickness (IMT); Young's elastic modulus (YEM); and carotid artery distensibility (Cdist) at the visit prior to the pregnancy were examined as predictors of hypertensive disorders, birthweight, and gestational age using multivariable linear regression with adjustment for confounders (age, BMI, smoking, and socioeconomic status).


RESULTS
No relations were seen between FMD, IMT, or the stiffness indices, and hypertensive disorders. Higher pre-pregnancy FMD was associated with lower gestational age, while increased Cdist was associated with reduced birthweight-for-gestational-age.


CONCLUSIONS
Some cardiovascular ultrasound measures of pre-pregnancy may predict pregnancy complications, but the association is likely to be small.
['Harville|Emily W|EW|', 'Juonala|Markus|M|', 'Viikari|Jorma S A|JS|', 'Kähönen|Mika|M|', 'Raitakari|Olli T|OT|']
D000328:Adult D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases D002339:Carotid Arteries D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness D055119:Elastic Modulus D005260:Female D005387:Finland D006801:Humans D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced D011247:Pregnancy D012042:Registries D012307:Risk Factors D014463:Ultrasonography D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal D059289:Vascular Stiffness D055815:Young Adult
Birth brachial artery hypertension infant low birth weight pregnancy-induced premature ultrasonography