Pre-eclampsia (PE) is one of the most common causes of maternal and foetal mortality and morbidity worldwide, regarding 2-8% of pregnancy. Although cardiovascular (CV) risk further increases after PE, a direct causative relationship has not yet been determined. It is known that pregnancy itself causes some alterations in CV system than resolve after delivery, while those caused by PE seem to persist thereafter. Foetal growth restriction (FGR) is related to PE, but can also be present in normotensive women, and carries an uncertain CV risk as well. Recently several studies involving women without CV risk factors, analysed the CV consequences of PE at short-medium term after delivery. Women with a history of PE, especially early-onset PE, are characterized by endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffness, altered elastic properties of the ascending aorta, biventricular and left atrial myocardial contractility impairment, myocardial fibrosis, altered ventricular-arterial coupling, inappropriate left ventricular mass. All these issues explain why PE is a risk factor for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, as demographical studies already suggested. A similar conclusion can be drawn also for FGR. However, several grey zones and areas of uncertainty still exist about the role of the CV system as cause and consequences of PE/FGR, and about the therapeutic strategies to prevent them. These are the main themes of this Research Topic.
Pre-eclampsia (PE) is one of the most common causes of maternal and foetal mortality and morbidity worldwide, regarding 2-8% of pregnancy. Although cardiovascular (CV) risk further increases after PE, a direct causative relationship has not yet been determined. It is known that pregnancy itself causes some alterations in CV system than resolve after delivery, while those caused by PE seem to persist thereafter. Foetal growth restriction (FGR) is related to PE, but can also be present in normotensive women, and carries an uncertain CV risk as well. Recently several studies involving women without CV risk factors, analysed the CV consequences of PE at short-medium term after delivery. Women with a history of PE, especially early-onset PE, are characterized by endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffness, altered elastic properties of the ascending aorta, biventricular and left atrial myocardial contractility impairment, myocardial fibrosis, altered ventricular-arterial coupling, inappropriate left ventricular mass. All these issues explain why PE is a risk factor for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, as demographical studies already suggested. A similar conclusion can be drawn also for FGR. However, several grey zones and areas of uncertainty still exist about the role of the CV system as cause and consequences of PE/FGR, and about the therapeutic strategies to prevent them. These are the main themes of this Research Topic.