Preeclampsia is associated with increased preclinical carotid atherosclerosis in women with type 1 diabetes.

PURPOSE: Although preeclampsia is a well-established cardiovascular risk factor (CVRF) in the general population, its role in type 1 diabetes (T1D) has been scarcely studied. We assessed the association between preeclampsia and preclinical atherosclerosis in T1D.

METHODS: We recruited 112 women without cardiovascular disease and last pregnancy ≥5 years before: a) T1D and previous preeclampsia (T1D+/PE+; n=28); b) T1D without preeclampsia (T1D+/PE-; n=28); c) Previous preeclampsia without T1D (T1D-/PE+; n=28); and d) Controls (without T1D or preeclampsia; T1D-/PE-; n=28). Groups were matched by age, several CVRF and diabetes duration and retinopathy (in T1D participants). Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and the presence of plaque (IMT ≥1.5 mm) were assessed by standardized ultrasonography protocol.

RESULTS: Mean age of the participants was 44.9±7.8 years (14.3% hypertension and 21.4% active smokers). Groups including T1D (T1D+/PE+ and T1D+/PE-) more frequently presented hypertension and statin treatment (23.2% vs. 5.4% and 37.5% vs. 8.9%; respectively; p<0.01), without differences in other CVRF. Carotid plaques were observed in 20.5%. In multivariate models adjusted for age, CVRF and statins, both T1D and preeclampsia showed a similar impact on the presence of plaque, with odds ratios (95% confidence interval), 5.45 (1.36-21.9) and 4.24 (1.04-17.3), respectively. Both entities showed an additive effect when combined, both in common carotid-IMT (T1D+/PE- or T1D-/PE+, β=0.198; T1D+/PE+, β=0.297) and in the presence of plaque (8.53 [1.07-68.2] and 28.1 [2.67-296.4], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Previous preeclampsia was independently associated with preclinical atherosclerosis in T1D. Further studies are needed to ascertain its usefulness for stratifying risk in T1D women.