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Increased plasma norepinephrine levels in previously pre-eclamptic women

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 28, pages 269–273 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

A history of pre-eclampsia increases the risk of cardiovascular morbidity by mechanisms yet unknown. The aim of the present study was to assess whether plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels are increased 5–6 years after pre-eclamptic pregnancy and to investigate associations with pathophysiological mechanisms of cardiovascular disease: insulin sensitivity, vascular function and arterial pressure. A total of 28 women with previous pre-eclampsia and 20 controls were examined. Blood pressure (BP) and plasma levels of NE and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured at rest and after standing for 5 min. Insulin sensitivity was assessed with minimal model analysis and vascular function was assessed using venous occlusion plethysmography and pulse wave analysis. Twenty-four-hour BP measurements were carried out. Women with previous pre-eclampsia had higher levels of NE at rest (P=0.02), which did not associate significantly with insulin sensitivity or overall vasodilatory capacity. The 24-h mean of systolic and diastolic blood pressures (BPs) and heart rate did not differ between the groups (P=0.30, P=0.10 and P=0.46, respectively), and there was no significant association with NE levels. ET-1 levels were similar between the groups, but a positive correlation with systolic (P=0.04) and diastolic (P=0.03) BPs in the upright position was shown in the patient group. Increased levels of plasma NE are sustained in women with previous pre-eclampsia and may contribute to the increased risk for cardiovascular disease in these women.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Eija Kortelainen, research nurse (Helsinki University Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Helsinki, Finland) for her assistance in physical measurements and for laboratory work and Elisabeth Berg, BSc (Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden) for her help with statistical matters. This work was supported by a special governmental grant for health sciences research (no. 2220), the Folkhälsan Research Foundation, Samfundet Folkhälsan, Finska Läkaresällskapet, the Paulo Foundation and the Else and Wilhelm Stockmann Foundation and Foundation for Obstetric and Gynecological Research, the Karolinska Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    K H Lampinen

  2. Folkhälsan Research Center, Biomedicum, Helsinki, Finland

    K H Lampinen, M Rönnback & P-H Groop

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska, Stockholm, Sweden

    K H Lampinen

  4. Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    M Rönnback & P-H Groop

  5. Department of Medicine, University of Otago-Christchurch, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand

    M G Nicholls & T G Yandle

  6. University of Åbo, Satakunta Central Hospital, Björneborg, Finland

    R J Kaaja

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  1. K H Lampinen
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Correspondence to R J Kaaja.

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Lampinen, K., Rönnback, M., Groop, PH. et al. Increased plasma norepinephrine levels in previously pre-eclamptic women. J Hum Hypertens 28, 269–273 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2013.84

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