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Arterial stiffness during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and early pregnancy in women exposed to assisted reproduction

von Wowern, Emma LU orcid ; Saldeen, Pia LU and Olofsson, Per LU (2018) In Hypertension in Pregnancy 37(4). p.182-191
Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Female sex hormones have vasorelaxing effects in non-pregnant and pregnant women. We aimed to investigate the effect of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for in vitro fertilization (IVF), and early pregnancy, on arterial stiffness as assessed by digital pulse wave analysis (DPA), hypothesizing reduced arterial stiffness as an effect of increased estrogen levels.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 68 women undergoing IVF were examined with DPA before conception and during IVF treatment with COH and embryo transfer (ET), and in gestational week seven in 19 women who became pregnant. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the DPA variables cardiac ejection elasticity index (EEI), b/a, dicrotic index... (More)

INTRODUCTION: Female sex hormones have vasorelaxing effects in non-pregnant and pregnant women. We aimed to investigate the effect of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for in vitro fertilization (IVF), and early pregnancy, on arterial stiffness as assessed by digital pulse wave analysis (DPA), hypothesizing reduced arterial stiffness as an effect of increased estrogen levels.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 68 women undergoing IVF were examined with DPA before conception and during IVF treatment with COH and embryo transfer (ET), and in gestational week seven in 19 women who became pregnant. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the DPA variables cardiac ejection elasticity index (EEI), b/a, dicrotic index (DI), d/a and aging index (AI) were measured.

RESULTS: HR was significantly increased at all measuring points (p ≤ 0.003) but MAP only at ET (p 0.007). DPA variables representing large arteries (EEI, b/a) and peripheral arteries (DI, but not d/a), and the global variable AI, indicated increased arterial stiffness at ET compared with baseline (p ≤ 0.035). No DPA variable was significantly changed at pregnancy measurements compared to baseline.

CONCLUSION: During COH for IVF treatment, DPA showed no changes in arterial stiffness during the follicular phase or in early pregnancy, but increased arterial stiffness in central and peripheral arteries in the early luteal phase. The result suggests a hormonal hemodynamic activation counteracting the effects of estrogen.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Hypertension in Pregnancy
volume
37
issue
4
pages
182 - 191
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85053493204
  • pmid:30238809
ISSN
1064-1955
DOI
10.1080/10641955.2018.1516225
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2dfb8eb5-de6b-414c-a6e3-3e30f030f00e
date added to LUP
2018-09-26 14:59:20
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:47:50
@article{2dfb8eb5-de6b-414c-a6e3-3e30f030f00e,
  abstract     = {{<p>INTRODUCTION: Female sex hormones have vasorelaxing effects in non-pregnant and pregnant women. We aimed to investigate the effect of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for in vitro fertilization (IVF), and early pregnancy, on arterial stiffness as assessed by digital pulse wave analysis (DPA), hypothesizing reduced arterial stiffness as an effect of increased estrogen levels.</p><p>MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 68 women undergoing IVF were examined with DPA before conception and during IVF treatment with COH and embryo transfer (ET), and in gestational week seven in 19 women who became pregnant. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the DPA variables cardiac ejection elasticity index (EEI), b/a, dicrotic index (DI), d/a and aging index (AI) were measured.</p><p>RESULTS: HR was significantly increased at all measuring points (p ≤ 0.003) but MAP only at ET (p 0.007). DPA variables representing large arteries (EEI, b/a) and peripheral arteries (DI, but not d/a), and the global variable AI, indicated increased arterial stiffness at ET compared with baseline (p ≤ 0.035). No DPA variable was significantly changed at pregnancy measurements compared to baseline.</p><p>CONCLUSION: During COH for IVF treatment, DPA showed no changes in arterial stiffness during the follicular phase or in early pregnancy, but increased arterial stiffness in central and peripheral arteries in the early luteal phase. The result suggests a hormonal hemodynamic activation counteracting the effects of estrogen.</p>}},
  author       = {{von Wowern, Emma and Saldeen, Pia and Olofsson, Per}},
  issn         = {{1064-1955}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{182--191}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Hypertension in Pregnancy}},
  title        = {{Arterial stiffness during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and early pregnancy in women exposed to assisted reproduction}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10641955.2018.1516225}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/10641955.2018.1516225}},
  volume       = {{37}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}