We appreciate the contributory comments of Ercan V. on our manuscript “A simple method for the assessment of arterial stiffness in pre-eclamptic patients” (Citation1). Firstly, our study groups were similar in terms of confounding risk factors except for hypertension. All of the preeclamptic patients were on alfa-methyl dopa treatment and additionally five of them were taking calcium channel blockers. Despite these antihypertensive treatments which are proposed to decrease aortic stiffness, we found that the aortic stiffness parameters are higher in pregnant women with preeclampsia than those of healthy pregnant women. Secondly, an analysis of a Food and Drug Administration surveillance database suggested a possible increase in congenital central nervous system and limb abnormalities with exposure to statins during pregnancy (Citation2). As statins are rated category X in pregnancy none of the participants were taking statin therapy.
Declaration of interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.
References
- Oylumlu M, Oylumlu M, Yuksel M et al. A simple method for the assessment of arterial stiffness in pre-eclamptic patients. Clin Exp Hypertens 2014;36:531–7.
- Edison RJ, Muenke M. Central nervous system and limb anomalies in case reports of first-trimester statin exposure. N Engl J Med 2004;350:1579–82