Age-Related Alterations in Cardiac Geometry in Formerly Preeclamptic Women and Healthy Parous Controls: An Explorative Study

• Published in: Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) Calif.), 2013-01, Vol.20 (1), p.39-44
• Main Authors: Ghossein-Doha, Chahinda, van Kuijk, Sander M. J., Spaanderman, Marc E. A., Delhaas, Tammo, Peeters, Louis L. H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Embryology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heart Ventricles - diagnostic imaging; Hemodynamics - physiology; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Obstetrics/Perinatology/Midwifery; Original Articles; Parity - physiology; Postpartum Period - physiology; Pre-Eclampsia - diagnostic imaging; Pre-Eclampsia - epidemiology; Pregnancy; Reproductive Medicine; Ultrasonography; Ventricular Function, Left - physiology; Ventricular Remodeling - physiology
• ISSN: 1933-7191; 1933-7205
• DOI: 10.1177/1933719112459230

Introduction: Preeclamptic pregnancies induce concentric left ventricular hypertrophy instead of eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy as seen in healthy pregnancies. Although these differences persist for at least several months postpartum, the long-term fate of these changes is unknown. Objective: To explore the age-related changes in cardiovascular structure and function in formerly preeclamptic women relative to parous controls. Methods: A total of 20 formerly preeclamptic women and 8 parous controls underwent 2 echocardiograms at 1 and 14 years of postpartum. With the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test and the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test, we analyzed the between-group differences in cardiac structure and function at both time points and the time-related changes in these indices. Results: Left ventricular geometry and dimensions and systolic function were comparable in the 2 study groups at both time points. The age-related decline in E/A ratio and increase in intraventricular septum thickness were noted in both groups over time, without appreciable differences between groups. Conclusion: A history of preeclampsia does not affect the age-related cardiac remodeling over a period of 14 years.