Abstract P270: First Trimester Elevation in Circulating Endothelin-1 and Arterial Stiffness are Predictive of Late Pregnancy Preeclampsia [Session Title: Onsite Poster Competition II]

Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by late pregnancy hypertension and proteinuria. PE causes significant morbidity for the maternal-fetal unit. Circulating endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor, is elevated at the time of diagnosis of human PE. In addition, women with PE demonstrate arterial stiffness as early as the end of the first trimester. However, it is unknown if arterial stiffness is associated with a first trimester elevation in ET-1 and post-delivery placental ET-1. We hypothesized that 1) first trimester plasma ET-1 is elevated and is associated with arterial stiffness in women who develop PE; 2) first trimester ET-1 is predictive of PE; and 3) placental ET-1 is increased in PE. To address these questions, we performed a nested case-control study in women at risk for PE. First trimester plasma ET-1 was measured via ELISA; aortic stiffness and carotid beta-stiffness (CβS) were measured by carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (CFPWV) and carotid tonometry/ultrasound, respectively. While the maternal age of controls (n=126; age 30 ± 0.45 years) and PE (n=15; age 31 ± 1.3 years) were similar, the PE group had a higher first trimester BMI (35 ± 3 vs. 29 ± 1 kg/m2, p = 0.01), systolic (125 ± 2 vs. 113 ± 1 mmHg, p

Source: Hypertension - September 14, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Alexandria M Betz, Gary L Pierce, Donna A Santillan, Eric J Devor, Sabrina M Scroggins, Debra S Brandt, Amy K Stroud, Kellie M Thomas, Seth W Holwerda, Allison L O’Deen, Lyndsey E DuBose, Justin L Grobe, Curt D Sigmund, Mark K Santillan Tags: Poster Abstract Presentations Source Type: research