Prevention of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy—Is There a Place for Metformin?

Abstract

The possibility of prophylaxis of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs) such as preeclampsia (PE) and pregnancy-induced hypertension is of interest due to the unpredictable course of these diseases and the risks they carry for both mother and fetus. It has been proven that their development is associated with the presence of the placenta, and the processes that initiate it begin at the time of the abnormal invasion of the trophoblast in early pregnancy. The ideal HDP prophylaxis should alleviate the influence of risk factors and, at the same time, promote physiological trophoblast invasion and maintain the physiologic endothelium function without any harm to both mother and fetus. So far, aspirin is the only effective and recommended pharmacological agent for the prevention of HDPs in high-risk groups. Metformin is a hypoglycemic drug with a proven protective effect on the cardiovascular system. Respecting the anti-inflammatory properties of metformin and its favorable impact on the endothelium, it seems to be an interesting option for HDP prophylaxis. The results of previous studies on such use of metformin are ambiguous, although they indicate that in a certain group of pregnant women, it might be effective in preventing hypertensive complications. The aim of this study is to present the possibility of metformin in the prevention of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy with respect to its impact on the pathogenic elements of development