DEcreased Cognitive FunctiON, NEurovascular CorrelaTes and Myocardial Changes in Women with a History of Pre-eclampsia (DECONNECT): Research Protocol for a Cross-sectional Pilot Study

Overview

Journal BMJ Open

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2024 Mar 5

PMID 38443087

Authors

Yentl Brandt

Robert-Jan Alers

Lisanne P W Canjels

Laura M Jorissen

Gwyneth Jansen

Emma B N J Janssen

Sander van Kuijk

Tamara Michelle Went

Dennis Koehn

Suzanne C Gerretsen

Jacobus Jansen

Walter Backes

Petra P M Hurks

Vincent van de Ven

M Eline Kooi

Marc E A Spaanderman

Chahinda Ghossein-Doha

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Pre-eclampsia is a hypertensive disorder affecting up to 8% of pregnancies. After pre-eclampsia, women are at increased risk of cognitive problems, and cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disorders. These sequelae could result from microvascular dysfunction persisting after pre-eclampsia. This study will explore differences in cerebral and myocardial microvascular function between women after pre-eclampsia and women after normotensive gestation. We hypothesise that pre-eclampsia alters cerebral and myocardial microvascular functions, which in turn are related to diminished cognitive and cardiac performance.

Methods And Analysis: The cross-sectional 'DEcreased Cognitive functiON, NEurovascular CorrelaTes and myocardial changes in women with a history of pre-eclampsia' (DECONNECT) pilot study includes women after pre-eclampsia and controls after normotensive pregnancy between 6 months and 20 years after gestation. We recruit women from the Queen of Hearts study, a study investigating subclinical heart failure after pre-eclampsia. Neuropsychological tests are employed to assess different cognitive domains, including attention, processing speed, and cognitive control. Cerebral images are recorded using a 7 Tesla MRI to assess blood-brain barrier integrity, perfusion, blood flow, functional and structural networks, and anatomical dimensions. Cardiac images are recorded using a 3 Tesla MRI to assess cardiac perfusion, strain, dimensions, mass, and degree of fibrosis. We assess the effect of a history of pre-eclampsia using multivariable regression analyses.

Ethics And Dissemination: This study is approved by the Ethics Committee of Maastricht University Medical Centre (METC azM/UM, NL47252.068.14). Knowledge dissemination will include scientific publications, presentations at conferences and public forums, and social media.

Trial Registration Number: NCT02347540.

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