The Importance of Inflammatory and Angiogenic Markers in the Evaluation of Early Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Women with Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

Background: Women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) have a significantly higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases later in life. The stratification of this risk using biomarkers during pregnancy can help to identify these women and apply early prevention. Objective: We aimed to determine proinflammatory cytokines and angiogenic markers, echocardiographic parameter changes after delivery and predict early cardiovascular disease risk in women with arterial hypertension and its complications during pregnancy. Methods: We conducted a literature search using the PubMed database for the last ten years. A total of 17 articles were included to our study and full text reviewed. Results: Four out of six studies found higher postpartum Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in women with HDP. IL-6 correlated positively with waist circumference, body mass index, and triglycerides, and negatively with high density lipoproteins (HDL). Two out of four studies found higher postpartum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in women with HDP but later concentration equalizes. One out of eight studies found higher placental growth factor (PlGF) and two out of eight found more elevated soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) in women with HDP. With decreasing PlGF and increasing sFlt-1, common carotid artery intima and media thickness, aortic root diameter, left atrial diameter, left ventricle mass, systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure increased, whereas HDL decreased. One out of four studies found higher sFlt-1/PlGF. Conclusion: IL-6 remains significantly higher after delivery. Few studies found higher TNF-alpha, sFlt-1, PlGF and their ratio postpartum. All studies found a correlation between angiogenic factors, IL-6, and cardiovascular disease risk factors.