Association between umbilical cord glucocorticoids and blood pressure at age 3 years

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Animal data show that decreased activity of placental 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2), which potently inactivates glucocorticoids (e.g. cortisol) to inert forms (cortisone), allows increased access of maternal...

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Main Authors: Rich-Edwards Janet W, Andrew Ruth, Huh Susanna Y, Kleinman Ken P, Seckl Jonathan R, Gillman Matthew W
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2008-08-01
Series:BMC Medicine
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/6/25
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spelling doaj-1874034cf6484e3a9ee9a1bf7298d2a82020-11-25T00:06:18ZengBMCBMC Medicine1741-70152008-08-01612510.1186/1741-7015-6-25Association between umbilical cord glucocorticoids and blood pressure at age 3 yearsRich-Edwards Janet WAndrew RuthHuh Susanna YKleinman Ken PSeckl Jonathan RGillman Matthew W<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Animal data show that decreased activity of placental 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2), which potently inactivates glucocorticoids (e.g. cortisol) to inert forms (cortisone), allows increased access of maternal glucocorticoids to the fetus and 'programs' hypertension. Data in humans are limited. We examined in humans the association between venous umbilical cord blood glucocorticoids, a potential marker for placental 11β-HSD2 enzyme activity, and blood pressure at age 3 years.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Among 286 newborns in Project Viva, a prospective pre-birth cohort study based in eastern Massachusetts, we measured cortisol (<it>F</it>) and cortisone (<it>E</it>) in venous cord blood and used the ratio of <it>F/E </it>as a marker for placental 11β-HSD2 activity. We measured blood pressure (BP) when the offspring reached age 3 years. Using mixed effects regression models to control for BP measurement conditions, maternal and child characteristics, we examined the association between the <it>F/E </it>ratio and child BP.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At age 3 years, each unit increase in the <it>F/E </it>ratio was associated with a 1.6 mm Hg increase in systolic BP (95% CI 0.0 to 3.1). The <it>F/E </it>ratio was not associated with diastolic blood pressure or birth weight for gestational age <it>z</it>-score.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A higher <it>F/E </it>ratio in umbilical venous cord blood, likely reflecting reduced placental 11β-HSD2 activity, was associated with higher systolic blood pressure at age 3 years. Our data suggest that increased fetal exposure to active maternal glucocorticoids may program later systolic blood pressure.</p> http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/6/25
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Rich-Edwards Janet W
Andrew Ruth
Huh Susanna Y
Kleinman Ken P
Seckl Jonathan R
Gillman Matthew W
spellingShingle Rich-Edwards Janet W
Andrew Ruth
Huh Susanna Y
Kleinman Ken P
Seckl Jonathan R
Gillman Matthew W
Association between umbilical cord glucocorticoids and blood pressure at age 3 years
BMC Medicine
author_facet Rich-Edwards Janet W
Andrew Ruth
Huh Susanna Y
Kleinman Ken P
Seckl Jonathan R
Gillman Matthew W
author_sort Rich-Edwards Janet W
title Association between umbilical cord glucocorticoids and blood pressure at age 3 years
title_short Association between umbilical cord glucocorticoids and blood pressure at age 3 years
title_full Association between umbilical cord glucocorticoids and blood pressure at age 3 years
title_fullStr Association between umbilical cord glucocorticoids and blood pressure at age 3 years
title_full_unstemmed Association between umbilical cord glucocorticoids and blood pressure at age 3 years
title_sort association between umbilical cord glucocorticoids and blood pressure at age 3 years
publisher BMC
series BMC Medicine
issn 1741-7015
publishDate 2008-08-01
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Animal data show that decreased activity of placental 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2), which potently inactivates glucocorticoids (e.g. cortisol) to inert forms (cortisone), allows increased access of maternal glucocorticoids to the fetus and 'programs' hypertension. Data in humans are limited. We examined in humans the association between venous umbilical cord blood glucocorticoids, a potential marker for placental 11β-HSD2 enzyme activity, and blood pressure at age 3 years.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Among 286 newborns in Project Viva, a prospective pre-birth cohort study based in eastern Massachusetts, we measured cortisol (<it>F</it>) and cortisone (<it>E</it>) in venous cord blood and used the ratio of <it>F/E </it>as a marker for placental 11β-HSD2 activity. We measured blood pressure (BP) when the offspring reached age 3 years. Using mixed effects regression models to control for BP measurement conditions, maternal and child characteristics, we examined the association between the <it>F/E </it>ratio and child BP.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At age 3 years, each unit increase in the <it>F/E </it>ratio was associated with a 1.6 mm Hg increase in systolic BP (95% CI 0.0 to 3.1). The <it>F/E </it>ratio was not associated with diastolic blood pressure or birth weight for gestational age <it>z</it>-score.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A higher <it>F/E </it>ratio in umbilical venous cord blood, likely reflecting reduced placental 11β-HSD2 activity, was associated with higher systolic blood pressure at age 3 years. Our data suggest that increased fetal exposure to active maternal glucocorticoids may program later systolic blood pressure.</p>
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/6/25
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