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Objective: Prepregnancy reduced plasma volume (PV) increases the risk of subsequent pre-eclamptic pregnancy. Reduced PV is thought to reflect venous reserve capacity, especially when venous vasculature is constricted and sympathetic tone is elevated. As obesity might affect these variables, and is associated with pre-eclampsia, increased body weight may underlie these observations. The aim of this study was to determine whether the relationship between reduced venous reserve and pre-eclampsia is independent of body mass index (BMI).Methods: This was an observational case-control study in which venous reserve capacity in 30 formerly pre-eclamptic, but currently non-pregnant, women divided equally into three groups based on BMI (BMI 19.5-24.9, 25.0-29.9 or ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 ), was compared with that in 30 healthy parous, non-pregnant controls. Cases and controls were matched for BMI, age and parity. Venous reserve capacity was quantified by assessing PV and venous compliance (VeC). The autonomic nervous system regulating venous capacitance was evaluated using heart rate (HR) variability analysis, with the women in a resting supine position and during positive head-up tilt (HUT).Results: Compared with controls, formerly pre-eclamptic women had, when in a resting supine position, lower PV (1339 ± 79 vs 1547 ± 139 mL/m2 (P < 0.0001)), lower VeC (0.04 ± 0.02 vs 0.07 ± 0.02 mL/dL/mmHg (P < 0.0001)), higher sympathetic tone (1.9 ± 1.1 vs 1.2 ± 0.7 (P = 0.002)) and lower baroreceptor sensitivity (BRS; 8.7 ± 3.8 vs 19.0 ± 1.7 ms/mmHg (P < 0.0001)). During HUT, women with a history of pre-eclampsia had less modulatory capacity over VeC and BRS, while HR and sympathetic tone remained consistently higher.Conclusions: Women with a history of pre-eclampsia had reduced venous reserve capacity compared with that in BMI-matched controls. This is reflected by lower PV and VeC, with the autonomic balance being shifted towards sympathetic dominance and lower BRS. This suggests that underlying reduced venous reserve, but not BMI, relates to pre-eclampsia. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is associated with both postpartum endothelial dysfunction and asymptomatic structural heart alterations consistent with heart failure Stage B (HF-B). In this study, we assessed the relationship between endothelial function, measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and HF-B in women with a history of PE.Methods: This was an observational study in which 67 formerly pre-eclamptic women (≥ 4 years postpartum) and 37 healthy parous controls were assessed ultrasonographically for cardiac function and geometry, as well as for endothelial function by means of brachial artery FMD. HF-B was diagnosed as left ventricular hypertrophy (left ventricular mass index (LVMi) > 95 g/m2 ), concentric remodeling (relative wall thickness > 0.42 and LVMi ≤ 95 g/m2 ), mild systolic dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction > 40% and < 55%) or asymptomatic valvular disease. Cardiovascular and metabolic syndrome variables were compared between women with history of PE and controls, as well as between those in the formerly pre-eclamptic group who had HF Stage A, HF-B or no HF. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the associations of FMD with PE, metabolic syndrome risk factors and obstetric parameters.Results: The prevalence of HF-B amongst formerly pre-eclamptic women was three-fold higher than that observed for controls (25% vs 8%, P < 0.05), while FMD was lower in formerly pre-eclamptic women compared with controls (6.12% vs 8.22%, P < 0.01); history of PE remained associated independently with lower FMD after adjusting for metabolic syndrome risk factors and obstetric parameters (β, -1.88; 95% CI, -3.59 to -0.18). However, HF-B did not relate to low FMD in formerly pre-eclamptic women.Conclusions: Years after pregnancy, formerly pre- eclamptic women have lower FMD and have HF-B more often compared with healthy parous controls. Nonetheless, HF-B was not related to reduced FMD. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: After pre-eclampsia (PE), the prevalence of structural heart disease without symptoms, i.e. heart failure Stage B (HF-B), may be as high as one in four women in the first year postpartum. We hypothesize that a significant number of formerly pre-eclamptic women with HF-B postpartum are still in their resolving period and will not have HF-B during follow-up.Methods: In this prospective longitudinal cohort study, we included 69 formerly pre-eclamptic women who underwent serial echocardiographic measurements at 1 and 4 years postpartum. HF-B was diagnosed as left ventricular hypertrophy (left ventricular mass index (LVMi) > 95 g/m2 ), concentric remodeling (relative wall thickness > 0.42 and LVMi ≤ 95 g/m2 ), mild systolic dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction > 40% and < 55%) or asymptomatic valvular disease. Women were subdivided and analyzed according to HF-B outcome: no HF-B at either visit; HF-B at first visit only; HF-B at second visit only; HF-B at both visits.Results: The prevalence of HF-B in formerly pre-eclamptic women was 23% in the first year postpartum and 23% after 4 years. At the second visit, HF-B had resolved in 62.5% of affected women but was newly developed in 19% of initially unaffected women. At the first visit, 56% of women diagnosed with HF-B had reduced systolic function whereas at the second visit 69% of women with HF-B had concentric remodeling with mostly normal ejection fraction, consistent with diastolic dysfunction.Conclusions: The prevalence of HF-B can be considered consistently high (1 in 4) amongst formerly pre-eclamptic women at follow-up. Nonetheless, at an individual level, more than 60% of women found initially to be affected by HF-B will recover, whilst about 20% of formerly pre-eclamptic women with normal echocardiography in the first year postpartum will develop HF-B over the following years. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objectives Pre-eclampsia (PE) is associated with both postpartum structural asymptomatic heart disease (i.e. heart failure Stage B (HF-B)) and conventional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. We aimed to evaluate the extent to which PE, adjusted for conventional CV risk factors, is associated independently with asymptomatic cardiac abnormalities postpartum. Methods In this cross-sectional cohort study, 107 formerly pre-eclamptic women and 41 women with uneventful previous pregnancy (controls) were invited for CV risk assessment 4-10 years postpartum. This included cardiac ultrasound, blood pressure (BP) measurement and evaluation of metabolic syndrome determinants. Asymptomatic structural and functional cardiac abnormalities were classified as HF-B, according to the American Heart Association guidelines. Prehypertension was defined as systolic BP of 120-139 mmHg and/or diastolic BP of 80-89 mmHg. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to calculate associations of PE and conventional risk factors with HF-B. Results The prevalence of asymptomatic HF-B was approximately 3.5-fold higher in the PE group compared with controls (25% vs 7%, P < 0.01); 67% of this group had concentric remodeling and 22% had mildly impaired ejection fraction. After adjustment for postpartum interval, hypertension and high-density lipoprotein, PE was significantly associated with HF-B (adjusted odds ratio, 4.4 (95% CI, 1.0-19.1)). Moreover, in the formerly pre-eclamptic group, prehypertension was associated significantly with HF-B (odds ratio, 4.3 (95% CI, 1.4-12.7)), while metabolic syndrome determinants were not. Conclusion PE is associated with a four-fold increased female-specific risk of asymptomatic cardiac abnormalities. Prehypertension apparently increases this risk significantly, while metabolic syndrome determinants do not. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is associated with both postpartum structural asymptomatic heart disease (i.e. heart failure Stage B (HF-B)) and conventional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. We aimed to evaluate the extent to which PE, adjusted for conventional CV risk factors, is associated independently with asymptomatic cardiac abnormalities postpartum.Methods: In this cross-sectional cohort study, 107 formerly pre-eclamptic women and 41 women with uneventful previous pregnancy (controls) were invited for CV risk assessment 4-10 years postpartum. This included cardiac ultrasound, blood pressure (BP) measurement and evaluation of metabolic syndrome determinants. Asymptomatic structural and functional cardiac abnormalities were classified as HF-B, according to the American Heart Association guidelines. Prehypertension was defined as systolic BP of 120-139 mmHg and/or diastolic BP of 80-89 mmHg. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to calculate associations of PE and conventional risk factors with HF-B.Results: The prevalence of asymptomatic HF-B was approximately 3.5-fold higher in the PE group compared with controls (25% vs 7%, P < 0.01); 67% of this group had concentric remodeling and 22% had mildly impaired ejection fraction. After adjustment for postpartum interval, hypertension and high-density lipoprotein, PE was significantly associated with HF-B (adjusted odds ratio, 4.4 (95% CI, 1.0-19.1)). Moreover, in the formerly pre-eclamptic group, prehypertension was associated significantly with HF-B (odds ratio, 4.3 (95% CI, 1.4-12.7)), while metabolic syndrome determinants were not.Conclusion: PE is associated with a four-fold increased female-specific risk of asymptomatic cardiac abnormalities. Prehypertension apparently increases this risk significantly, while metabolic syndrome determinants do not. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]