Re: Pre-eclampsia: an important risk factor for asymptomatic heart failure.

In this cross-sectional study, Ghossein-Doha et al. evaluate how pre-eclampsia (PE), together with conventional cardiovascular risk factors, is associated with heart failure Stage B (HF-B). Women were recruited 4–10 years after pregnancy and evaluated using two-dimensional echocardiography for asymptomatic HF-B (characterized as previous myocardial infarction, left ventricular concentric remodeling or hypertrophy, reduced systolic function or valvular disease). Participants also had assessment of blood pressure, metabolic and renal function. The authors report that the prevalence of asymptomatic HF-B was 3.5 times higher after PE compared with after uncomplicated pregnancy. Furthermore, a history of PE was associated with HF-B even after adjustment for interval since pregnancy and conventional cardiovascular risk factors such as high-density lipoprotein and hypertension