Risk of precancerous heart failure from preeclampsia

A quarter of the women who have experienced preeclampsia already have signs of heart failure. These women are also at greater risk for other cardiovascular diseases in the future. This is the conclusion of Nicki Breetveld after her PhD research at Maastricht UMC +. The findings underscore the importance of careful follow-up of women who are experiencing preeclampsia.

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About 170,000 babies are born every year in the Netherlands. Pre-eclampsia (also called preeclampsia) develops in three to five percent of pregnancies. Every year, thousands of women come with this condition. Pre-eclampsia is mainly characterized by high blood pressure and increased protein in the urine and can cause unpleasant symptoms such as headaches and upper stomach pain. But there are therefore still harmful consequences in the longer term, Breetveld concludes in her doctoral research.

Early signs of heart failure

Breetveld’s research mainly focused on the early signs of heart failure, such as a thickened heart muscle or damage to the vessel wall. When there are structural abnormalities in the heart, but no recognizable symptoms of heart failure, this is called stage B heart failure in medical terms. In 23 percent of the women, such abnormalities appear to be present one and four years after pregnancy. Also, women with pre-eclampsia have a lower blood plasma volume and higher blood pressure, which increases the risk of stage B heart failure. In addition, women with pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure have a double risk of cardiovascular disease. This risk is increased both 10 and 30 years after pregnancy compared to women who have had a ‘normal’ pregnancy (risk of 3.1 percent versus 1.5 percent and 19 percent versus 9 percent).

Follow-up

“A pregnancy is actually the ultimate stress test for the cardiovascular system”, says Breetveld. “In most cases, pregnancy goes well and cardiovascular function is restored, but structural changes have already occurred in some women, which entail future risks.” However, it is unclear exactly what causes preeclampsia. It is therefore difficult to predict who will be at risk of cardiovascular disease in the future. Breetveld: “It is therefore all the more important to properly organize the follow-up of these women, by regularly checking their blood pressure and, where necessary, having an ultrasound of the heart made. By improving the overall lifestyle and any medication. you can prevent worse suffering. “

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