Reduced brachial flow-mediated vasodilation in young adult ex extremely low birth weight preterm: a condition predictive of increased cardiovascular risk?

Abstract

The results obtained reveal a significant decrease in endothelial function of ex-ELBW subjects compared to controls, underlining a probable correlation with preterm birth and low birth weight. Taken together, these results suggest that an ELBW may underlie the onset of early circulatory dysfunction predictive of increased cardiovascular risk.

Alterations in viscoelastic properties following premature birth may lead to hypertension and cardiovascular disease development in later life

“…Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the relationship between an increase in blood pressure over the long term and a low birthweight due to preterm birth. These include abnormal microvascularisation , decreased endothelial function , decreased glomerulogenesis and decreased elastin content in elastic arteries, which may lead to permanent changes in arterial stiffness . Compared with adolescents born at term, prematurely born adolescents with birthweight appropriate for their gestational age have increased systolic and mean blood pressure and arterial stiffness independent of blood pressure, as assessed by pulse wave velocity measurement using a Complior SP device (Artech Medical) .…”

Cardiovascular dysfunction in adult mice following postnatal intermittent hypoxia

“…To further explore this possibility, we examined a very early marker of ulterior adverse cardiovascular outcomes, namely endothelial cell dysfunction. Indeed, endothelial dysfunction, as demonstrated by impaired flow-mediated vasodilation, has been repeatedly found to be present in expremature infants (30,31), and has been strongly associated with worse cardiovascular disease, particularly hypertension and ischemic heart disease (32,33). Here, we demonstrate the presence of diminished vasodilatory responses to acetylcholine and also reduced reperfusion kinetics as measured by laser Doppler flow studies in mice exposed to neonatal IH.…”

Response to ‘In adolescence, extreme prematurity is associated with significant changes in the microvasculature, elevated blood pressure and increased carotid intima-media thickness’

“…As pioneer in this field,2 3 our research group had already demonstrated a similar alteration in a group of young adults who were born extremely preterm (birth weight <1 kg; gestational age <28 weeks). In this study group, both systolic blood pressure and arterial stiffness measured by means of a previously validated method (flow mediated dilation) appear to be increased in comparison with healthy controls born at term.…”