Flow-Mediated Vasodilation Is Not Attenuated in Hypertensive Pregnancies Despite Biochemical Signs of Inflammation

Background. Our objective was to evaluate endothelial function and markers of inflammation during and after pregnancy in normal pregnancies compared to pregnancies complicated with hypertension or preeclampsia (PE). Methods and Results. We measured endothelium-dependent brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in 32 women with normal pregnancy and in 28 women whose pregnancy was complicated with hypertensive disorder in the second half of pregnancy and minimum 3-month postpartum. Enhancement of endothelial function was greater in hypertensive than normal pregnancies, the mean FMD% being 11.0% versus 8.8% during pregnancy (P=0.194) and 8.0% versus 7.9% postpartum (P=0.978). Concentrations of markers of inflammation were markedly increased in pregnant hypertensive group compared to those after delivery (hsCRP 4.5 versus 0.80 mg/L, P=0.023, IL-6 2.1 versus 1.2 pg/mL, P=0.006; TNF-α 1.9 versus 1.5 pg/mL, P=0.030). There were no statistically significant associations between the markers of inflammation and FMD. Conclusions. Brachial artery FMD was not attenuated in the third trimester hypertensive pregnancies compared to normal pregnancies, whereas circulating concentrations of hsCRP and IL-6 and TNF-α reacted to hypertensive complications.