MRI-derived aortic characteristics after pregnancy: The AMBITYON study.

OBJECTIVES: Pregnancy and pregnancy complications have been associated with increased arterial stiffness even at young age. In this study we assessed the impact of parity on CMR-derived aortic characteristics as early markers of atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness in healthy women between 25 and 35 years. STUDY DESIGN: We studied 68 women who participated in the AMBITYON study, a prospective population-based cohort study for assessment of atherosclerotic burden by MRI and traditional CVD risk factors in healthy, young adults. Of these women, 40 (58.8%) were nulliparous, 13 (19.1%) were primiparous and 15 (22.1%) were multiparous. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Descending thoracic aortic wall thickness (AWT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured using 3.0T CMR. RESULTS: AWT measurements were similar between nulliparous women and primi- or multiparous women (1.6 mm ±â€¯0.2 mm vs. 1.6 mm ±â€¯0.2 mm; p = 0.79). Correction for age and systolic blood pressure did not change these results. Applying percentile based cut-off values showed a non-significant increase in AWT in parous women. PWV measurements did not differ between nulliparous women and parous women (4.5 m/s ±â€¯0.7 m/s vs. 4.5 m/s ±â€¯0.8 m/s; p = 0.78). Correction for age and systolic blood pressure did not influence these results. Using percentile based cut-off values, showed an increasing likelihood of higher PWV-values in parous women, although not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Direct measurement of aortic AWT and PWV by CMR showed no difference between nulliparous and parous women, probably indicating limited effect of pregnancy on arterial stiffness and early markers of atherosclerosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands Trial Register (NTR) number: 4742.

Similar pro-NT and pro-RLX2 levels after preeclampsia and after uncomplicated pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Women are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) after preeclampsia. Proneurotensin 1-117 (pro-NT) and prorelaxin 2 connecting peptide (pro-RLX2) have recently emerged as potential biomarkers for CVD risk in women. We assessed pro-NT and pro-RLX2 levels in women with and without a history of preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: 339 women with a history of early-onset preeclampsia and 327 women with an uncomplicated pregnancy underwent cardiovascular screening 10 years after delivery (the Preeclampsia Risk EValuation in FEMales (PREVFEM) cohort). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pro-NT, a stable fragment of the neurotensin precursor, was assessed in the whole cohort. Pro-RLX2, the stable connecting peptide of the relaxin 2 prohormone, was assessed in a subset of this cohort, consisting of 27 women with a history of preeclampsia and 23 healthy controls. Associations between biomarker levels and traditional CVD risk factors in the preeclampsia and control group were assessed by Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: We found no differences in pro-NT and pro-RLX2 levels between the preeclampsia and control group. Pro-NT levels were associated with higher HbA1c levels (r=0.113, p-value 0.045) and with BMI (r=0.124, p-value 0.027), but only in the control group. Pro-RLX2 was related to current smoking and triglyceride levels in women with a history of preeclampsia and related to LDL-cholesterol in women with an uncomplicated pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Pro-NT and pro-RLX2 levels were comparable in women 10 years after preeclampsia and women with an uncomplicated pregnancy. The role of pro-NT and pro-RLX2 in CVD development after preeclampsia should be further investigated.