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Cardiac structure and function is related to current blood pressure rather than to previous hypertensive pregnancy

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 29, pages 702–704 (2015)Cite this article

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One-hundred five women were examined with echocardiography and ambulatory blood pressure measurements 40 years post partum to evaluate the effect of former hypertensive pregnancies versus current blood pressure on cardiac structure and function. Hypertensive pregnancies did not have an adverse effect on the heart, but current minor elevation in blood pressure had a negative impact on the myocardium. The increased prevalence of hypertension following hypertensive pregnancies may be a crucial factor regarding the increased risk for cardiovascular disease shown in affected women.

Women experiencing hypertensive pregnancies have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease later in life,1 mechanisms are complex and not completely understood. A possible risk factor may be the hypertensive pregnancy (HTP) period per se, which could lead to alterations in the cardiovascular system predisposing for cardiovascular morbidity. Pathological myocardial alterations in HTPs, such as changes in left ventricular diastolic filling pattern,2 are similar to early changes found in hypertensive non-pregnant individuals. Whether these changes persist many years post partum is not known, thus it is not possible to draw conclusions if the HTP in itself results in deteriorated cardiac function. Follow-up studies after HTPs have usually been performed within months to a few years post partum and studies with echocardiographic examinations many years after HTPs are, to the best of our knowledge, few.

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Acknowledgements

This study was performed without any received grants in any form.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine/Cardiology, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden

    A-C Collén & K Manhem

  2. Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine/Clinical physiology, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden

    M C Johansson & C W Guron

  3. Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden

    H Gustafsson

  4. Department of Medicine, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden,

    H Gustafsson

Authors
  1. A-C Collén
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  2. M C Johansson
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  3. C W Guron
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  4. H Gustafsson
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Correspondence to A-C Collén.

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Collén, AC., Johansson, M., Guron, C. et al. Cardiac structure and function is related to current blood pressure rather than to previous hypertensive pregnancy. J Hum Hypertens 29, 702–704 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2015.68

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2015.68

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