Effect of Early-Onset Preeclampsia on Offspring's Blood Pressure during the First Month of Life

Objective To explore the effect of early-onset preeclampsia on the blood pressure of offspring during the first month of life. Study design This prospective case-control study included 106 neonates of mothers with early-onset preeclampsia (developing at <34 weeks of gestation) and 106 infants of normotensive mothers, matched 1-to-1 for sex and gestational age. Serial blood pressure measurements were obtained on admission, daily for the first postnatal week, and then weekly up to the fourth week of life. Results There were no differences in blood pressure values on admission and the first day of life between cases and controls. Conversely, infants exposed to preeclampsia had significantly higher systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean blood pressure (MBP) on the subsequent days up to the fourth postnatal week (P<.001-.033). Multiple regression analyses with adjustment for sex, gestational age, antenatal corticosteroid use, and maternal antihypertensive medication use confirmed the foregoing findings (P<.001-.048). Repeated-measures ANOVA also identified preeclampsia as a significant determinant of trends in SBP, DBP, and MBP during the first month of life (F = 16.2, P<.001; F = 16.4, P<.001; and F = 17.7, P<.001, respectively). Conclusions Infants of mothers with early-onset preeclampsia have elevated blood pressure values throughout the neonatal period compared with infants born to normotensive mothers.