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

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Arterial stiffness
• pregnancy

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].