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Cardiovascular risk factors in healthy women with previous small for gestational age infants
Author(s) -
Paradisi Giancarlo,
Mattoli Maria Vittoria,
Tomei Claudia,
Zuppi Cecilia,
Lulli Paola,
Quagliozzi Lorena,
Caruso Alessandro
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1447-0756
pISSN - 1341-8076
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0756.2011.01547.x
Subject(s) - medicine , small for gestational age , endothelial dysfunction , insulin resistance , endocrinology , brachial artery , subclinical infection , blood pressure , gestational age , insulin , pregnancy , genetics , biology
Aim: To investigate whether healthy women with a previous pregnancy complicated by a small for gestational age (SGA) infant have normal endothelial function, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and normal inflammation parameters. Material and Methods: Brachial artery flow‐mediated dilatation (FMD, endothelium‐dependent) was measured in 16 subjects with previous SGA, and in 15 controls (CTR) with previous normal pregnancies. Lipid panel, glucose, insulin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐alpha), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (s‐ICAM), soluble vascular (s‐VCAM‐1) adhesion molecule‐1 (s‐VCAM‐1), and androgens were also measured. Results: FMD was reduced in women with previous SGA compared to controls ( P < 0.0001). SGA women showed increased insulin resistance ( P < 0.0001), s‐ICAM‐1 ( P = 0.008), TNF‐alpha ( P = 0.02), testosterone ( P = 0.03), and diastolic blood pressure ( P = 0.01) than CTR. Conclusion: Endothelial dysfunction, reduced insulin sensitivity and subclinical inflammation are present in otherwise healthy women with previous SGA. These abnormalities show that the presence of a SGA infant in the obstetric history should be considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease later in life.