O82. Association between anti-angiogenic factor and signs of arterial aging in women with preeclampsia

Abstract

Introduction Preeclampsia (PE) is a state of exaggerated inflammation and is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (s-Flt1) is an antiangiogenic factor and is increased, whereas placental growth factor (PlGF) is an angiogenic factor and is decreased in PE. Objectives Aim of this study was to assess s-Flt1, PlGF and s-Flt1/PlGF and its correlation with common carotid artery (CCA) intima, media and intima/media ratio (I/M) in women with and without PE. Methods We measured serum s-Flt1 and PlGF using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits and individual CCA intima and media thicknesses were estimated by high-frequency (22 MHz) ultrasound in 55 women at PE diagnosis and in 64 women with normal pregnancies at a similar gestational age and about one year postpartum. A thick intima, thin media and high I/M are signs of a less healthy artery wall. Results During pregnancy, we found higher values of s-Flt1, lower values of PlGF and thicker intima, thinner media and higher I/M in women with PE than in women with normal pregnancy (all p 0.0001 ). Further, s-Flt1 and s-Flt1/PlGF showed a positive correlation with intima thickness and I/M but a negative correlation with media thickness (all p 0.0001 ). About one year postpartum, s-Flt1 and s-Flt1/PlGF values had decreased in both groups but there was still a significant group difference (all p 0.0001 ). No significant correlation with CCA wall layers (except for s-Flt1 and intima thickness, p = 0.007 ) was found at postpartum. Conclusions We found substantially higher values of s-Flt1 and s-Flt1/PlGF in women with PE and these higher values were associated with signs of arterial aging. Our findings support the findings of increased risk of cardiovascular disease in women with PE.