Reference values for carotid intima-media thickness and flow-mediated dilatation in normal pregnancies from 8 to 41 weeks gestation and from 8 to 14 weeks postpartum

Purpose: To determine carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and to describe the characteristic of both endothelial markers, throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Material and methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 566 low-risk singleton pregnancies, including 987 visits, was performed from 8 to 41 weeks' gestation and from 8 to 14 weeks postpartum, using high-resolution ultrasound and an automated reading program. Results: When segregated for gestational age, the mean ± SD cIMT was 0.32 ± 0.09 in the first (1T), second (2T) and third trimester (3T) and 0.35 ± 0.09 at postpartum…