Characterization of Vascular Patterns Associated with Endothelial Glycocalyx Damage in Early- and Late-Onset Preeclampsia

Abstract

This paper provides an assessment of molecular and functional changes in blood vessels, and a description of vascular patterns during preeclampsia (PE). Patients with normal pregnancy, and pregnancy complicated by PE at earlier (20–34 weeks) and later terms (≥34 weeks) underwent a 24 h monitoring of blood pressure, central hemodynamics, arterial stiffness, and myocardial function. The blood levels of the structural components of endothelial glycocalyx (eGC): syndecan-1 (SDC 1), heparan sulfate proteoglycan 2 (HSPG2), and hyaluronic acid (HA) were determined. In early-onset PE, the vascular pattern comprised changes in all structural components of eGCs, including transmembrane proteoglycans levels, and severe disorders of central hemodynamics, arterial stiffness, and myocardial changes, probably leading to more severe course of PE and the formation of morphological grounds for cardiovascular disorders. The vascular pattern in late-onset PE, including changes in HA levels, central hemodynamics, and myocardial function, may be a signal of potential cardiovascular disorder. PE may change adaptive hemodynamic responses to a pathological reaction affecting both arterial elasticity and the left ventricular myocardium, with its subsequent hypertrophy and decompensation, leading to a delayed development of cardiovascular disorders after PE. Further clinical studies of these indicators will possibly identify predictors of PE and long-term consequences of the disease.