Chronic effects of maternal smoking on pulse waves in the fetal aorta.

Objective: In order to evaluate the impact of maternal smoking on arterial stiffness in utero, pulse wave characteristics in the fetal aorta were investigated. A prospective clinical study was made of 34 smoking and 34 non-smoking healthy volunteers with uncomplicated pregnancies at 31-40 weeks of gestation.

Methods: The mechanical properties of the fetal thoracic aorta were assessed by an ultrasonic phase-locking echo-tracking system.

Placental abruption and perinatal death.

Studies of risk factors for abruptio placentae (AP) are partly conflicting and studies of risk factors for perinatal death in these pregnancies are scarce. Using the population-based Swedish Birth Registry from 1987 to 1993, we were able to study these risks in 795,459 singleton pregnancies. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) for risk of AP and risk of perinatal death in pregnancies with and without AP.

Impaired endothelial function and increased carotid stiffness in 9-year-old children with low birthweight.

Background: Low birthweight (LBW) has been associated with an increased incidence of adult cardiovascular disease. Endothelial dysfunction and loss of arterial elasticity are early markers of hypertension and atherosclerosis. We studied the prevalence of these markers in 44 healthy, prepubertal (age 9+/-1.

Mechanical Properties of Large Arteries in Mother and Fetus during Normal and Diabetic Pregnancy.

> Objective: To assess the influence of diabetes mellitus on the mechanical wall properties of large maternal and fetal arteries in pregnant women. Methods: Prospective serial monitoring of arterial wall characteristics, using ultrasonic phase-locked tracking of vessel diameters and oscillometric brachial blood pressure measurements. Ten pregnant women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and 15 with gestational diabetes were studied and compared with 20 women in uncomplicated gestation.

Increased large arterial stiffness and impaired acetylcholine induced skin vasodilatation in women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus.

Objective: Gestational diabetes is associated with increased risk of developing noninsulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) later in life. By the time that a diagnosis of NIDDM is established, functional disturbances in the vascular system may be observed. This study was planned to assess macro- and microvascular function in nonpregnant women without signs of diabetes two to four years after a pregnancy complicated with gestational diabetes.