Hypertension and Metabolic Abnormalities Later in Life after Preeclampsia

Aim: The present study examined Japanese women who had preeclampsia 10 or more years earlier, and documented the frequency of hypertension as well as their current clinical and chemical characteristics.Methods: We recruited 119 women for whom 10 or more years had passed since an indexed pregnancy (58 with a history of severe preeclampsia and 61 with normal pregnancies). A physical examination assessed blood pressure, weight, abdominal circumference (AC) and other compositional indices. Fasting blood samples were examined for glucose, total cholesterol (TCHOL), high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC, LDLC), and triglycerides (TG). A questionnaire was used to collect demographic data. Data were analyzed using the Student's t-test.Results: The frequency of hypertension later in life was significantly higher in the preeclampsia group compared to the control (53.4% versus 11.5%, P = 0.013). Body mass index (BMI), AC, and levels of TCHOL, TG and LDLC were significantly higher in the group of patients with preeclampsia who did not have hypertension later in life (P < 0.05), and there were no significant differences in the levels of glucose and HDLC. Despite the lack of evidence for hypertension, metabolic abnormalities were observed later in life in those who experienced preeclampsia during pregnancy.Conclusions: Since hypertension after preeclampsia was associated with metabolic abnormalities, those who experienced preeclampsia should schedule regular check-ups to monitor for clinical manifestations of hypertension.