Preeclampsia May Cause Lasting Brain Damage and Increase Stroke Risk Postpartum
Preeclampsia (PE), a serious blood pressure disorder during pregnancy, affects about 3–8% of women and is already known to raise the risk of health issues like high blood pressure and memory problems later in life. Now, new research reveals that it may also have lasting effects on brain blood vessels, increasing the risk of more severe strokes even months after childbirth.
In a recent study published in Neuroprotection, scientists from the University of Vermont, led by Professor Marilyn Cipolla, used a rat model to explore the long-term effects of PE on stroke outcomes. They found that rats with a history of PE experienced significantly worse brain damage after a stroke, including larger infarcts (areas of dead tissue) and more swelling.
These animals also had poorer blood circulation in the brain and higher levels of oxidative stress — a condition that can damage cells — which may explain why their strokes were more severe. Another finding was that certain small blood vessels responsible for rerouting blood during a stroke, called pial collaterals, didn’t work as well in rats with PE history. These vessels were more constricted and had smaller diameters, limiting blood flow when it was needed most.
The findings suggest that PE causes long-term harm to the brain’s vascular system and may leave women more vulnerable to strokes well after pregnancy. Prof. Cipolla says this research could help doctors better understand how to protect maternal brain health and develop new treatments for women recovering from preeclampsia.
