Determining Whether Hypertensive Status and Stress Level Are Associated With Inflammatory Markers

Background:Hypertensive disorders are common pregnancy complications in the United States. Although the exact mechanism underlying hypertensive disorders in pregnancy is unknown, there is evidence of involvement of a maladaptive maternal inflammatory response. Psychological maternal stress experienced during pregnancy can increase the risk of a hypertensive disorder by altering the maternal inflammatory response.Objectives:The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the relationships of hypertensive status and stress with inflammatory biomarkers throughout pregnancy.Method:A 1:2 case–control design was used to analyze secondary data longitudinally with repeated measures of a multicenter, culturally and ethnically diverse pregnant population. Demographic data, psychological stress, and serum inflammatory data were analyzed. The sample consisted of 30 pregnant women with hypertension and 61 normotensive women. Measurements were taken once in each trimester of pregnancy.Results:Trimester-specific levels of ...