Assessment of endothelial function by flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery in adolescents with a history of preeclampsia or a normotensive pregnancy

Avaliação da função endotelial através da dilatação mediada por fluxo da artéria braquial em adolescentes com história de pré-eclâmpsia ou de gestação normotensa

Abstract

Objectives:  to determine the prevalence of endothelial dysfunction and its association with a history of mild and severe preeclampsia in adolescents.

Methods:  a cross-sectional study was carried out at the MEAC-UFC with 103 primiparous adolescents postpartum. The assessment of endothelial function was performed by way of flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery. Variables (age, body mass index, gestational age at delivery, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and flow-mediated dilation) were compared between groups. p<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results:  twenty-four (23.3%) patients had preeclampsia (PE): 11 mild and 13 severe. The overall prevalence of endothelial dysfunction was 23.3% (21.5% of patients with normotensive pregnancies and 29.2% of the PE patients: 18.2% of those with mild PE and 38.5% of those with severe PE). The figures were statistically significant for systolic blood pressure, p=0.007.

Conclusions:  patients with a history of PE have higher systolic blood pressure than patients with a history of normotensive pregnancy, but did not have more endothelial dysfunction.

Pre-eclampsia; Endothelium vascular; Adolescent; Ultrasonics; Brachial artery