Common Carotid Artery Intima-media Thickness Increases Throughout the Pregnancy Cycle: a Prospective Cohort Study

Overview

Journal BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2018 Jun 2

PMID 29855290

Citations 3

Authors

Nancy Anderson Niemczyk

Marianne Bertolet

Janet M Catov

Mansi Desai

Candace K McClure

James M Roberts

Akira Sekikawa

Ping Guo Tepper

Emma J Barinas-Mitchell

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: High parity is associated with greater cardiovascular disease (CVD) among mid-life and older women. Prospective studies of arterial change throughout pregnancy are needed to provide insight into potential mechanisms. This study assessed vascular adaptation across pregnancy in healthy first-time pregnant women.

Methods: The Maternal Vascular Adaptation to Healthy Pregnancy Study (Pittsburgh, PA, 2010-2015) assessed 37 primigravid women each trimester, 6-8 weeks after delivery and 1-5 years postpartum, with B-mode ultrasound imaging of common carotid artery (CCA) intima-media thickness (IMT) and inter-adventitial diameter (IAD) to assess associations with physical and cardiometabolic measures.

Results: Thirty-seven women (age 28.2 ± 4.5 years, pre-pregnant BMI 24.4 ± 3.2 kg/m) experienced uncomplicated pregnancies. After adjustment for age and pre-pregnancy BMI, mean (SE) IAD (mm) increased each trimester, from 6.38 (0.08) in the 1st trimester to 6.92 (0.09) in the 3rd trimester, and then returned to 1st trimester levels postpartum (6.35 [0.07], P < 0.001). In contrast, mean (SE) CCA IMT (mm) increased from the 2nd trimester (i.e., 0.546 [0.01]) onward, and remained higher at an average of 2.7 years postpartum (0.581 [0.02], P = 0.03). Weight partially explained changes in IAD.

Conclusions: In uncomplicated first pregnancies, IAD increased and returned to 1st trimester levels postpartum. In contrast, CCA IMT remained increased 2 years postpartum. Maternal weight explained vascular changes better than did metabolic changes. Increased postpartum CCA IMT may persist and contribute to long-term CVD risk.

Citing Articles

Evaluating Maternal Risk Factors Impacting Fetal Intima-Media Thickness of the Abdominal Aorta Measured at 28 Weeks of Gestation.

Belovan B, Popa Z, Ratiu A, Citu C, Citu I, Sas I J Clin Med. 2024; 13(21).

PMID: 39518658 PMC: 11545991. DOI: 10.3390/jcm13216519.

Cooking fuels use and carotid intima-media thickness during early pregnancy of women in Myanmar.

Min M, Taneepanichskul N PLoS One. 2020; 15(7):e0236151.

PMID: 32726349 PMC: 7390349. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236151.

Brachial artery stiffening in healthy primigravidas is associated with weight gain and increased cardiac output.

Niemczyk N, Catov J, Desai M, McClure C, Roberts J, Sekikawa A Hypertens Pregnancy. 2018; 37(4):204-211.

PMID: 30257118 PMC: 6330891. DOI: 10.1080/10641955.2018.1524479.

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