Maternal C-reactive protein and developmental programming of atherosclerosis

CRP levels are significantly greater in the hypercholesterolemic than in the normocholesterolemic, group of mothers

Note that the maternal classification in the FELIC study was based on the average of 3-4 cholesterol determinations throughout pregnancy, whereas the total cholesterol data shown here represent corresponding measurements that were obtained during a single prenatal examination. Data represent all normo- and hypercholesterolemic mothers (n = 51 and 87, respectively) for whom both CRP and cholesterol data were available.

Liguori. Maternal CRP and atherosclerosis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008.

Maternal plasma cholesterol level correlates with maternal CRP level during pregnancy

Data represent all mothers for whom both data were available at the same time point (n = 89). In contrast to all other analyses, cholesterol levels that were obtained at the same time point as CRP level were used instead of mean cholesterol levels.

Liguori. Maternal CRP and atherosclerosis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008.

Atherosclerosis progresses much faster in children of mothers who were hypercholesterolemic during pregnancy

Examples shown are the cumulative areas of atherosclerotic lesions in 30 cross-sections through the aortic arch (n = 97 and 59 for children of hyper- and normocholesterolemic mothers, respectively).⁸

Liguori. Maternal CRP and atherosclerosis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008.

Maternal CRP level correlates with atherosclerosis in the child

Atherosclerosis that is indicated as the log-transformed first component was determined from mean cross-sectional lesion areas that were measured in the aortic arch and abdominal aorta. Note that atherosclerosis was not corrected for the age of the children and therefore shows considerable variability. Data reflect all mother/child pairs for whom maternal CRP level was known (n = 136).

Liguori. Maternal CRP and atherosclerosis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008.