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Maternal cotyledons at birth predict blood pressure in childhood

Maternal cotyledons at birth predict blood pressure in childhood
Maternal cotyledons at birth predict blood pressure in childhood
INTRODUCTION: A small placental surface at birth has been shown to be associated with the development of hypertension in later life. In this study we extend this observation by looking at the relationship between the number of placental cotyledons and blood pressure in childhood. Because the number of cotyledons is correlated with the surface area, we hypothesized that fewer cotyledons would be associated with higher blood pressure.

METHODS: The Alspac study is a longitudinal study of 13,971 children born in Bristol. Their placentas were stored in formalin. We photographed the placentas of a sample of the children and related the number of maternal cotyledons to their blood pressure levels at age 9 years.

RESULTS: Contrary to our hypothesis, a greater number of maternal cotyledons was associated with higher blood pressure. Among boys, a greater number of cotyledons was associated with higher systolic and diastolic pressure but not with higher pulse pressure. Diastolic pressure rose by 2.2 mmHg (95% CI 0.6 to 3.7, p = 0.007) for every 10 additional cotyledons. Among girls, a greater number of cotyledons was associated with higher systolic pressure and pulse pressure but not with higher diastolic pressure. Pulse pressure rose by 2.7 mmHg (1.1-4.3, p < 0.001) for every 10 additional cotyledons. These associations were little changed by adjustment for placental surface area.

CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that a large number of maternal cotyledons is associated with raised blood pressure in childhood. The associations differ in the two sexes.
alspac, maternal cotyledons, blood pressure
0143-4004
672-675
Barker, D.
4da1905f-11d2-4673-b261-1895f6455e2b
Osmond, C.
2677bf85-494f-4a78-adf8-580e1b8acb81
Grant, S.
ff52a667-fbcc-41d4-bb41-d86d608e0c03
Thornburg, K.L.
d4c41e0d-b72a-48aa-b9d7-0eae04385497
Cooper, C.
e05f5612-b493-4273-9b71-9e0ce32bdad6
Ring, S.
e19e1875-ffd0-4499-87f2-55ea20579115
Davey-Smith, G.
ac9a7391-6b6d-430e-9048-bfa57df32021
Barker, D.
4da1905f-11d2-4673-b261-1895f6455e2b
Osmond, C.
2677bf85-494f-4a78-adf8-580e1b8acb81
Grant, S.
ff52a667-fbcc-41d4-bb41-d86d608e0c03
Thornburg, K.L.
d4c41e0d-b72a-48aa-b9d7-0eae04385497
Cooper, C.
e05f5612-b493-4273-9b71-9e0ce32bdad6
Ring, S.
e19e1875-ffd0-4499-87f2-55ea20579115
Davey-Smith, G.
ac9a7391-6b6d-430e-9048-bfa57df32021

Barker, D., Osmond, C., Grant, S., Thornburg, K.L., Cooper, C., Ring, S. and Davey-Smith, G. (2013) Maternal cotyledons at birth predict blood pressure in childhood. Placenta, 34 (8), 672-675. (doi:10.1016/j.placenta.2013.04.019). (PMID:23731799)

Record type: Article

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: A small placental surface at birth has been shown to be associated with the development of hypertension in later life. In this study we extend this observation by looking at the relationship between the number of placental cotyledons and blood pressure in childhood. Because the number of cotyledons is correlated with the surface area, we hypothesized that fewer cotyledons would be associated with higher blood pressure.

METHODS: The Alspac study is a longitudinal study of 13,971 children born in Bristol. Their placentas were stored in formalin. We photographed the placentas of a sample of the children and related the number of maternal cotyledons to their blood pressure levels at age 9 years.

RESULTS: Contrary to our hypothesis, a greater number of maternal cotyledons was associated with higher blood pressure. Among boys, a greater number of cotyledons was associated with higher systolic and diastolic pressure but not with higher pulse pressure. Diastolic pressure rose by 2.2 mmHg (95% CI 0.6 to 3.7, p = 0.007) for every 10 additional cotyledons. Among girls, a greater number of cotyledons was associated with higher systolic pressure and pulse pressure but not with higher diastolic pressure. Pulse pressure rose by 2.7 mmHg (1.1-4.3, p < 0.001) for every 10 additional cotyledons. These associations were little changed by adjustment for placental surface area.

CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that a large number of maternal cotyledons is associated with raised blood pressure in childhood. The associations differ in the two sexes.

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e-pub ahead of print date: 31 May 2013
Published date: August 2013
Keywords: alspac, maternal cotyledons, blood pressure
Organisations: Human Development & Health

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Local EPrints ID: 355126
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/355126
ISSN: 0143-4004
PURE UUID: cca67193-4ab0-48b1-b398-69463147ec27
ORCID for C. Osmond: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9054-4655
ORCID for C. Cooper: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3510-0709

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Date deposited: 08 Aug 2013 09:16
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 02:45

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Contributors

Author: D. Barker
Author: C. Osmond ORCID iD
Author: S. Grant
Author: K.L. Thornburg
Author: C. Cooper ORCID iD
Author: S. Ring
Author: G. Davey-Smith

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