Release 7.6.2024

Pre-eclampsia exposed children presented with a disadvantageous cardiovascular risk profile already during preadolescent age

Michelle Renlund-Vikström, MD, will be defending her doctoral thesis on the 7.6.2024 at 12 noon in the Hattivatti Auditorium at the New Children’s Hospital with the permission of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Helsinki. It will also be possible to follow the public examination via Teams video link.

The thesis compares cardiovascular risk profiles, including blood pressure, arterial stiffness, arterial wall layer thickness, heart rate variability, as well as cardiac structure and function, among 182 8-12 year-old pre-eclampsia exposed children and 85 age-matched unexposed controls.

A child born from a pre-eclamptic pregnancy is known to develop hypertension and stroke more commonly during adult age. The thesis shows that pre-eclampsia exposed children presented with a disadvantageous cardiovascular risk profile already during preadolescent age with elevated blood pressure, increased arterial stiffness, as well as a more globular shaped right ventricle, and mildly altered cardiac function. This may reflect early progression of cardiovascular disease during young age. Pre-eclampsia exposure was, however, not related with child body size or composition, arterial wall thickness, carotid artery stiffness, heart rate variability, cardiac left ventricular mass and atrial volume, lipids, glucose, insulin or blood inflammatory markers.

Maternal, gestational and child perinatal factors were strongly associated with elevated blood pressure in children exposed to pre-eclampsia. The elevated blood pressure was reflected in increased child artery wall thickness and cardiac left ventricular mass. Adiposity was related with an increased cardiac left ventricular mass and a larger atrial volume.

Michelle Renlund-Vikström (born 1995) got her matriculation exam from Korsholms gymnasium (2014) and is currently a pediatrician in training at the Vaasa Central Hospital. The thesis is titled: “Cardiovascular health in preadolescent children following in-utero exposure to pre-eclampsia”. Associate professor Nicole Sekarski-Hunkeler, MD (Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland) will be serving as opponent. Professor Kaija-Leena Kolho, MD, PhD (Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki) will have the role as custos. Associate professor Taisto Sarkola, MD, PhD (Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital; Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research) has been Michelle’s supervisor.