Impaired Fetal Growth and Low Plasma Volume in Adult Life

Contains fulltext : 97020.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) OBJECTIVE: : To estimate whether normotensive women who were born small for gestational age have low plasma volume in adult life, which is associated with later chronic hypertension. METHODS: : In 280 normotensive women with a history of hypertension in pregnancy, we recorded recalled gestational age and weight at birth and measured plasma volume (I-human serum albumin indicator dilution method). To correct for possible confounders, we recorded recent obstetric history and measured in each individual all constituents of the metabolic syndrome (World Health Organization criteria), sex hormones (progesterone and estradiol), renal function, and cardiac performance at rest (echocardiography). We estimated daily activity level with a validated questionnaire (Short Questionnaire to Assess Health-enhancing physical activity). We studied the relation between women's own birth weight centile and her adult plasma volume (mL) and adjusted for the effects of confounding variables using multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: : Birth weight correlated positively with adult plasma volume (P