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Quantitative coronary CT analysis reveals noncalcified atherosclerotic plaques in women with a history of preeclampsia

de Jonge, Mayra L L ; Velthuis, Birgitta K ; den Ruijter, Hester M ; Pihlsgård, Mats LU ; Gonçalves, Isabel LU orcid ; Zoet, Gerbrand A ; van Rijn, Bas B ; Franx, Arie ; Roeters van Lennep, Jeanine E and Timpka, Simon LU orcid , et al. (2025) In European Journal of Preventive Cardiology
Abstract

AIMS: A history of preeclampsia is associated with at least a twofold increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), with unclear underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate coronary plaque characteristics in women with a history of preeclampsia compared to women from the general population.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, women with a history of preeclampsia from the Cardiovascular Riskprofile - Imaging and Gender-Specific Disorders (CREw-IMAGO) study (n=138) were compared to a reference group of women without a self-reported history of preeclampsia from the Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage study (SCAPIS, n=390). All participants (age 45-55 years) underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).... (More)

AIMS: A history of preeclampsia is associated with at least a twofold increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), with unclear underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate coronary plaque characteristics in women with a history of preeclampsia compared to women from the general population.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, women with a history of preeclampsia from the Cardiovascular Riskprofile - Imaging and Gender-Specific Disorders (CREw-IMAGO) study (n=138) were compared to a reference group of women without a self-reported history of preeclampsia from the Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage study (SCAPIS, n=390). All participants (age 45-55 years) underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Plaques were assessed quantitatively with semi-automated software for total, calcified, and noncalcified plaque volumes. Differences in plaque characteristics were analyzed using multivariable linear regression analyses.

RESULTS: Women with a history of preeclampsia had a twofold increased risk of having any coronary plaque. Among women with plaques, a history of preeclampsia was associated with a larger noncalcified plaque volume (beta: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.17-1.07) after adjustment for age, body mass index, education, dyslipidaemia, and a history of smoking. This was explained by larger volumes of fibrous plaque (beta: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.26-1.15) and fibrous fatty plaque (beta: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.01-1.03) and not due to a larger total plaque volume.

CONCLUSION: Women with a history of preeclampsia have coronary plaques with larger noncalcified plaque volume compared to unaffected women, driven by larger fibrous and fibrous fatty plaque volumes, independent of total plaque volume.

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Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
European Journal of Preventive Cardiology
article number
zwaf713
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • pmid:41253692
ISSN
2047-4881
DOI
10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf713
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.
id
a7be89ff-9d76-4a16-9885-7af66c30e0ae
date added to LUP
2026-03-12 16:39:08
date last changed
2026-03-17 15:45:31
@article{a7be89ff-9d76-4a16-9885-7af66c30e0ae,
  abstract     = {{<p>AIMS: A history of preeclampsia is associated with at least a twofold increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), with unclear underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate coronary plaque characteristics in women with a history of preeclampsia compared to women from the general population.</p><p>METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, women with a history of preeclampsia from the Cardiovascular Riskprofile - Imaging and Gender-Specific Disorders (CREw-IMAGO) study (n=138) were compared to a reference group of women without a self-reported history of preeclampsia from the Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage study (SCAPIS, n=390). All participants (age 45-55 years) underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Plaques were assessed quantitatively with semi-automated software for total, calcified, and noncalcified plaque volumes. Differences in plaque characteristics were analyzed using multivariable linear regression analyses.</p><p>RESULTS: Women with a history of preeclampsia had a twofold increased risk of having any coronary plaque. Among women with plaques, a history of preeclampsia was associated with a larger noncalcified plaque volume (beta: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.17-1.07) after adjustment for age, body mass index, education, dyslipidaemia, and a history of smoking. This was explained by larger volumes of fibrous plaque (beta: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.26-1.15) and fibrous fatty plaque (beta: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.01-1.03) and not due to a larger total plaque volume.</p><p>CONCLUSION: Women with a history of preeclampsia have coronary plaques with larger noncalcified plaque volume compared to unaffected women, driven by larger fibrous and fibrous fatty plaque volumes, independent of total plaque volume.</p>}},
  author       = {{de Jonge, Mayra L L and Velthuis, Birgitta K and den Ruijter, Hester M and Pihlsgård, Mats and Gonçalves, Isabel and Zoet, Gerbrand A and van Rijn, Bas B and Franx, Arie and Roeters van Lennep, Jeanine E and Timpka, Simon and Onland-Moret, N Charlotte}},
  issn         = {{2047-4881}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Preventive Cardiology}},
  title        = {{Quantitative coronary CT analysis reveals noncalcified atherosclerotic plaques in women with a history of preeclampsia}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf713}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf713}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}