PhD defence: Henriette Ladegård Skov
Blood pressure during pregnancy and the relation to preeclampsia and later-life hypertension
Info about event
Time
Location
Auditorium G206-145, Entrance G6, Aarhus University Hospital
On Wednesday 9 September at 15:00, Henriette Ladegård Skov defends her PhD dissertation entitled “Blood pressure during pregnancy and the relation to preeclampsia and later-life hypertension”.
Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy. It is a frequent cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. In individuals at increased risk of preterm preeclampsia, starting acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or aspirin early in pregnancy reduces this risk. Early identification of individuals at high-risk is important to enable preventive actions. Various models exist to identify people at risk, but improvement is wanted. The pathogenesis of preeclampsia is not fully understood, though vascular endothelial dysfunction is known to play a key role. Preeclampsia and cardiovascular disease (CVD) also share several risk factors. This thesis focuses on blood pressure (BP) in pregnancy, including BP variability and BP patterns in early pregnancy, and the relation to preeclampsia. It also examines BP patterns in pregnancy and the association with later-life hypertension. The results contribute to understanding the physiological adaptations during pregnancy and their effects on the cardiovascular system. This is relevant for future prediction models and preventive strategies for hypertension and CVD.
The aim of this PhD project was to investigate various blood pressure patterns during pregnancy and their relationship to preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and subsequent risk of hypertension. This was addressed through two prospective cohort studies and a systematic review.
The results provide an exploratory understanding of blood pressure early in pregnancy. They show that blood pressure differences between arms were found in pregnant women who later developed preeclampsia. Moreover, a higher frequency of sustained blood pressure patterns in the first half of pregnancy was observed in women who developed preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. Finally, the PhD project offers an overview of the existing evidence that stable, sustained blood pressure patterns during pregnancy increase the risk of developing hypertension later in life.
The summary is written by the PhD student.
The defence is public and takes place in auditorium G206-145, entrance G6, Aarhus University Hospital. Please see the press release for more information.
Contact
PhD student Henriette Ladegård Skov
Mail: hensko@clin.au.dk
Phone: +45 28768834