Conférence scientifique du vendredi midi
Conférencier
- Elizabeth Bonney, MD, MPH
- Obstétricienne-gynécologue, Centre médical de l'Université du Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, États-Unis
Evolving evidence in women suggests an association between cardiovascular disease risk and pregnancy outcome. Pregnancy, a physiologic challenge, may reveal inherent strengths or deficiencies. Alternatively, it may either enhance protective mechanisms or induce damage with cardiovascular consequences. Normal pregnancies are generally associated with low future cardiovascular risk while complicated pregnancies are associated with detrimental vascular effects over time. Pregnancy-induced cardiovascular structural and functional adaptations in humans persist post-partum (PP) and, depending on the extent and timing, may either protect against or contribute to long-term disease. The immune system may protect against or adversely influence cardiovascular disease. The immune system undergoes significant changes during pregnancy. PP changes, though less understood, may also have long-term effects on maternal health. Careful examination of a “system” as it returns to homeostasis after perturbation may reveal critical elements of system regulation. Further, such examination may reveal mechanisms underlying long-term consequences. We have thus proposed careful study of the PP vascular system and immune systems in humans and animal models. We use an inbred mouse model to begin to determine the role of maternal CD8 and CD4 T cells and macrophages in the vascular-bed specific, molecular basis of maternal vascular and immune system interactions PP.
