51
Views
0
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Articles

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

ORCID Icon, , , , , , & show all
Pages 204-211 | Received 09 Feb 2018, Accepted 25 Aug 2018, Published online: 26 Sep 2018
 

ABSTRACT

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.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development [T32HD0055162-04];National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [T32HL083825];National Institutes of Health [UL1 RR024153,UL1TR000005].

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.