Blood pressure in early adolescence in the offspring of preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancies

Abstract

To compare blood pressure (BP) in adolescence (11-12 years) among the offspring of preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancies. SBP and DBP of 181 girls and boys born after pregnancies with preeclampsia were measured and compared with the BP of 356 age-matched girls and boys of normotensive pregnancies. The association of preeclampsia with later BP was adjusted for perinatal information, anthropometric factors at follow-up, and maternal BP and BMI. In the preeclampsia group, SBP in early adolescence was higher than in the normotensive group (115.3 vs. 113.5 mmHg, P = 0.03), but there was no difference in DBP (66.4 vs. 65.3 mmHg, P = 0.10). After adjustment for maternal body mass and BP, the difference in SBP was largely attenuated. The higher SBP among adolescent offspring of preeclamptic pregnancies could be mediated by maternal body mass or BP, factors that are positively associated with the risk of preeclampsia in pregnancy.