Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2016; 76 - P457
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1592899

First- and second-trimester prediction of preeclampsia by increased carotid intima-media-thickness

A Brückmann 1, C Seeliger 2, D Schlembach 3, E Schleußner 2
  • 1GesaTal Medical Center, Department of Prenatal Diagnosis and Preventive Medicine, Erfurt, Deutschland
  • 2University Hospital Jena, Friedrich-Schiller- University, Department of Obstetrics, Jena, Deutschland
  • 3Vivantes Hospital Berlin-Neukoelln, Department of Obstetrics, Berlin, Deutschland

Introduction: Carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) is an established marker for endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to assess IMT in the first trimester and it's predictive value for preeclampsia (PE).

Methods: We measured cIMT in 700 pregnant women (31 ± 5 years), 347 in the first (T1: 11.4 ± 1.9 wks) and 543 in the second trimester (T2: 21.5 ± 2.3 wks) using high-resolution ultrasound and an automated reading program.

Results: 82 women (32 ± 5 years) developed PE, including 31 early onset (eoPE), 24 late onset (loPE), 10 superimposed early onset (sePE) and 17 superimposed late onset PE (slPE) cases. 618 women did not develop PE (NP), including 83 women with chronic hypertension (CH). In T1 eoPE, sePE and slPE and in T2 all PE groups showed significantly greater cIMT values compared to NP and CH group (p < 0.010). cIMT values between NP and CH in T1 and T2 were not different. A cIMT (mm) cut-off value of ≥0.5 in T1 and > 0.4 in T2 predicts early onset PE (including sePE) with 64,3% and 68,6% sensitivity.

Conclusion: First- and second-trimester cIMT is increased in women who later developed preeclampsia, but not in women with chronic hypertension. In high risk pregnancies measurement of cIMT could represent an easy to use early detection method to predict preeclampsia noninvasively.