Brachial artery stiffening in healthy primigravidas is associated with weight gain and increased cardiac output

Objective: To assess brachial artery distensibility and associated factors in healthy primigravidas. Methods: We assessed brachial artery distensibility using the DynaPulse 5,000A in 37 women each trimester, and 6–8 weeks and 1–5 years postpartum. Associations with physical and cardiometabolic measu...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nancy Anderson Niemczyk, Janet M. Catov, Mansi M. Desai, Candace K. McClure, James M. Roberts, Akira Sekikawa, Ping Guo Tepper, Emma Barinas-Mitchell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2018-10-01
Series:Hypertension in Pregnancy
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10641955.2018.1524479
Description
Summary:Objective: To assess brachial artery distensibility and associated factors in healthy primigravidas. Methods: We assessed brachial artery distensibility using the DynaPulse 5,000A in 37 women each trimester, and 6–8 weeks and 1–5 years postpartum. Associations with physical and cardiometabolic measures were considered. Results: Mean (SE) brachial artery distensibility (%Δ/mmHg) decreased (stiffened) from 7.50 (0.20) 12–14 weeks to 6.93 (0.22) 36–38 weeks (p < .01) and returned to baseline 7.52 (0.44) at 2.7 years postpartum. Weight gain and greater cardiac output were significantly related to greater stiffness. Conclusion: Increased weight and cardiac output of pregnancy were associated with brachial artery stiffening.
ISSN:1064-1955
1525-6065