Abstract :
Abstract Preeclampsia is associated with cardiac dysfunction, not only during the clinical phase of the disease, but also after delivery, with long term implications for both maternal and neonatal cardiovascular health. An abnormal cardiovascular phenotype also precedes conception, indicating that pre-existing cardiovascular dysfunction is associated with the development of preeclampsia. This review summarises the changes in cardiovascular function in preeclampsia, examining the evidence for when cardiovascular dysfunction develops and presenting the evidence for two phenotypes -- one associated with fetal growth restriction, low cardiac output and high peripheral resistance, and a second associated with normal fetal growth, high cardiac output and low peripheral resistance. The presence of a cardiovascular phenotype that precedes conception demonstrates the potential for prevention of preeclampsia through cardiovascular optimisation at this stage. The two phenotypes mean therapy can be targeted to optimising cardiovascular function. The prevention and effective treatment of preeclampsia are essential aspects of improving maternal and neonatal cardiovascular health in the long term. Author Affiliation: (a) Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Queen Charlotte's Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (b) Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland * Corresponding author. (footnote)[white star] Disclaimer: CCL is supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) based at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial College London. Byline: Natalie Dennehy (a), Christoph Lees [c.lees@imperial.ac.uk] (b,*)