Subjects Conceived through Assisted Reproductive Technologies Display Normal Arterial Stiffness

Abstract

Multiple studies reported signs of vascular dysfunction in subjects conceived through assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The assessment of arterial stiffness in this cohort seems beneficial for risk stratification. Regional arterial stiffness of the abdominal aorta (AAO) and the common carotid arteries (CCA) was evaluated sonographically using two-dimensional speckle tracking in subjects conceived through ART and spontaneously conceived peers. Global arterial stiffness was assessed utilizing an oscillometric blood pressure device. The cohorts of 67 ART subjects and 86 spontaneously conceived peers (11.31 (8.10-18.20) years vs. 11.85 (8.72-18.27) years, p = 0.43) did not differ significantly in parameters of regional and global arterial stiffness. In the sub-analysis of study participants ≥10 years of age, markers of arterial stiffness did not display significant differences between both groups. However, a higher tendency of brachial systolic blood pressure was demonstrated in the ART cohort compared to the control group (120.18 ± 9.57 mmHg vs. 116.55 ± 8.05 mmHg, p = 0.050). The present study displayed no significant differences in arterial stiffness between ART subjects and spontaneously conceived peers. Moreover, this study suggests that arterial stiffness does not elevate more profoundly in ART subjects with increasing age. Further studies are required for a more detailed cardiovascular risk stratification of the ART cohort.

Keywords: abdominal aorta; arterial stiffness; assisted reproductive technologies; common carotid artery; peak circumferential strain; pulse wave velocity; two-dimensional speckle tracking.

Figure 1

Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking (2DST) of the Abdominal Aorta and the Common Carotid Arteries. 2DST tracks pixels of the region of interest (ROI) over the cardiac cycle and quantifies their deformation in percent. Special care was taken to set the ROI as small as possible to precisely track the vessel’s wall. Peak circumferential strain (upper graph, marked with the arrow, %) and peak strain rate (lower graph, marked with the arrow, 1/s) were identified manually. (A) The abdominal aorta (AAO) was evaluated in short subxiphoid view at epigastric level under three-lead ECG tracking. (B) Both common carotid arteries (CCA) were recorded under three-lead ECG tracking in supine position. The neck extended up to a 45°angle and turned to the opposite side of examination.