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Arterial stiffness as a novel tool for the early prediction of preeclampsia: a perspective

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 38, pages 745–749 (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Preeclampsia is a leading complication of pregnancy that lacks accurate tools for its early prediction. Improved risk stratification tools early in pregnancy would enable more efficient allocation of limited healthcare resources while ensuring that pregnant women destined to develop preeclampsia receive appropriate care. This brief perspective highlights the current state of first-trimester preeclampsia prediction. We focus on arterial stiffness, an important hemodynamic indicator of vascular health that has shown promising results for improved early prediction of preeclampsia by our and independent research groups. Further, we outline the promise, applicability, and feasibility of integrating arterial stiffness assessments into clinical practice.

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Funding

The PULSE Study is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (PJT-168918). MF is supported by a FRQS Doctoral Training Award.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vascular Health Unit, Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Montreal, QC, Canada

    Mekayla Forrest, Maria Matossian, Brenda Valdes Sustaita, Helena Papacostas Quintanilla & Stella S. Daskalopoulou

  2. Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Mekayla Forrest & Stella S. Daskalopoulou

  3. Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Brenda Valdes Sustaita, Helena Papacostas Quintanilla & Stella S. Daskalopoulou

  4. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands

    Bart Spronck

  5. Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia

    James Sharman

  6. Division of Internal Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Stella S. Daskalopoulou

Authors
  1. Mekayla Forrest
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  2. Maria Matossian
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  3. Brenda Valdes Sustaita
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  4. Helena Papacostas Quintanilla
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  5. Bart Spronck
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  6. James Sharman
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  7. Stella S. Daskalopoulou
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Contributions

MF, MM, BVS, HPQ, and SSD contributed to the conceptualization of the manuscript and outline of presented ideas. MF, MM, and BVS performed the literature review. MF drafted the manuscript, MM designed Table 1, and BVS designed the graphical abstract. BS and JS contributed scientific input and clinical review throughout the drafting process. All authors critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stella S. Daskalopoulou.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Forrest, M., Matossian, M., Valdes Sustaita, B. et al. Arterial stiffness as a novel tool for the early prediction of preeclampsia: a perspective. J Hum Hypertens 38, 745–749 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-024-00967-6

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