Premium
Microvascular dysfunction: a link between pre‐eclampsia and maternal coronary heart disease
Author(s) -
Ramsay Jane E.,
Stewart Frances,
Greer Ian A.,
Sattar Naveed
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2003.02069.x
Subject(s) - eclampsia , medicine , cardiology , insulin resistance , risk factor , vascular disease , disease , pregnancy , heart disease , insulin , biology , genetics
Epidemiological studies have recently demonstrated a relationship between pre‐eclampsia and coronary heart disease. Insulin resistance has been implicated as a common factor. We have demonstrated, for the first time, using laser Doppler imaging in vivo , impaired microvascular function in women 15–25 years following a pregnancy complicated by pre‐eclampsia. Thus, microvascular dysfunction, which is associated with insulin resistance, may be a predisposing vascular mechanism for both coronary heart disease and pre‐eclampsia. Pregnancies complicated by pre‐eclampsia may identify women at risk of vascular disease in later life and may provide the opportunity for lifestyle and risk factor modification to alter maternal vascular disease risk.