Multiparametric Assessment of Maternal Vascular Function in the Prediction of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

Overview

The present study is a single-centre prospective study that will enrol pregnant women during their first trimester of pregnancy (11+0 - 13+6 weeks of gestation). During pregnancy, women will undergo standard clinical evaluation and management. During the two study visits (enrollment and 24+0 - 27+6 weeks of gestation) the investigators will perform arterial tonometry (Pulsepen) and in vivo darkfield microscopy (Glycocheck) to evaluate endothelial and vascular function. A urine sample and a blood sample for specific study analyses on metabolic profile, endothelial and angiogenic markers will be collected. Pregnancy outcomes will be collected at delivery and five years after delivery all the participants will be interview to collect long-term cardiovascular outcomes. Serum endothelial and angiogenic markers will be evaluated only in participants who will develop hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and in an equal number of controls matched for age and body mass index at the time of conception.

Primary aim: To determine the role of the combination of arterial tonometry and endothelial glycocalyx measurement in predicting the risk of developing hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Secondary aims: * To determine the association between circulating markers of angiogenesis and endothelial dysfunction (ANG-1, ANG-2, ET-1, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) and the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. * To define the trends of serum uric acid, lipids and xanthine oxidase activity in normotensive and hypertensive pregnancies. * To determine the ability of the combination of arterial tonometry and endothelial glycocalyx measurement, performed in the two study visits during pregnancy, in predicting the risk of long-term maternal cardiovascular disease.