Age-Related Alterations in Cardiac Geometry in Formerly Preeclamptic Women and Healthy Parous Controls: An Explorative Study

Introduction: Preeclamptic pregnancies induce concentric left ventricular hypertrophy instead of eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy as seen in healthy pregnancies. Although these differences persist for at least several months postpartum, the long-term fate of these changes is unknown. Objective: To explore the age-related changes in cardiovascular structure and function in formerly preeclamptic women relative to parous controls. Methods: A total of 20 formerly preeclamptic women and 8 parous controls underwent 2 echocardiograms at 1 and 14 years of postpartum. With the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test and the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test, we analyzed the between-group differences in cardiac structure and function at both time points and the time-related changes in these indices. Results: Left ventricular geometry and dimensions and systolic function were comparable in the 2 study groups at both time points. The age-related decline in E/A ratio and increase in intraventricular septum thickness were noted in both groups over time, without appreciable differences between groups. Conclusion: A history of preeclampsia does not affect the age-related cardiac remodeling over a period of 14 years.