Maternal Health

Early Detection & Precision Intervention of Preeclampsia

with Digital Vascular Biomarkers

In-Clinic, At Home, On-the-Go

Fast Facts

3.2X

higher cost multiple for preeclampsia compared to uncomplicated pregnancy.1 

81%

Percentage of deliveries in 2019 (US) had 1 or more moderate risks for preeclampsia.2

75%

Percentage of pregnant women at increased risk of preeclampsia do not take aspirin as prescribed.3

Preeclampsia and Arterial Stiffening Go Hand-in-Hand

  • Werlang, Paquin, and Coutinho

    Having had preeclampsia added ~6 years to the vascular age of affected women and early vascular aging was significantly more likely to be present in women with severe preeclampsia than in nonsevere preeclampsia or controls.

    Werlang, Paquin, and Coutinho
    Journal of American Heart Association, 2023
  • Turi et al

    Before gestational hypertension sets in… early alterations can be detected through arterial stiffness parameters’ measurements, such as pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx).

    Turi et al
    Diagnostics, 2022
  • Osman et al

    A meta-analysis and systematic review of 36 studies found arterial stiffness and waveform reflection measurements consistently increased among pregnant women that developed preeclampsia.

    Osman et al
    Journal of  Hypertension, 2018
  • Phan et al

    Arterial stiffness predicted pre-eclampsia earlier and with greater ability than blood pressure, ultrasound indices or angiogenic biomarkers.

    Phan et al
    BJOG, 2023

Arterial Stiffness in Pregnancy

Arterial stiffness significantly affects hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, which are major causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Increased stiffness limits the blood vessels' ability to adapt to pressure changes, raising the risk of hypertension. This condition can lead to severe complications during pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, which accelerates vascular aging and can cause organ damage.

Research Highlights

Improve Pregnancy Outcomes

Vascular biomarkers play a pivotal role in the early detection and management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Elevated biomarker measurements can predict the onset of hypertensive conditions like preeclampsia, allowing for earlier intervention and potentially reducing adverse outcomes for both mother and child. By integrating vascular biomarkers into prenatal care protocols, healthcare providers can more effectively monitor and manage the vascular changes associated with pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Utility of Vascular Biomarkers in Maternal Health

  • Marozio et al

    In a study of 1,600 pregnant women, central blood pressure was found to be the best predictor for the later development of preeclampsia, while brachial blood pressure was not.

    Marozio et al
    Journal of Hypertension, 2019
  • Fullerton et al

    "A one-point higher AIX was associated with 0.3-day reduced time-to-delivery. AIx is associated with time-to-delivery and other outcomes in pregnancy."

    Fullerton et al
    Hypertension in Pregnancy, 2014
  • Katsipi et al

    Compared to traditional diagnostic markers for preeclampsia, pulse wave velocity has shown to be a superior marker, demonstrating a detection rate of 81% for all cases and 82% for early-onset, at a fixed 10% false-positive rate.

    Katsipi et al
    Hypertension Research, 2014
  • Phan et al

    Vascular alteration can be detected in the second trimester. Pulse wave velocity changepoint was detected at 14-17 weeks and augmentation index increased at 18-21 weeks in women went on to develop preeclampsia.

    Phan et al
    Metabolism, 2021
  • Belmar Vega et al

    Postpartum women who have had severe preeclampsia have more pronounced arterial stiffness parameters including pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, central systolic pressure, and pulse pressure amplification

    Belmar Vega et al
    Nefrologia, 2024

Vascular Biomarkers Explained

Vascular biomarkers are revolutionizing not only cardiovascular health management but also clinical research and personal wellness strategies.

These critical indicators offer a comprehensive evaluation of the cardiovascular system's health across a broad spectrum, from clinical trials to individual health monitoring. By assessing key markers such as endothelial function, arterial stiffness, and coronary flow reserve, they enable a nuanced understanding of cardiovascular risks and conditions.

This valuable insight facilitates early intervention, personalized health optimization, and the development of targeted treatments in clinical settings, significantly advancing patient care and wellness initiatives.

Brachial Blood Pressure

What it Is
Brachial blood pressure measures the pressure of blood at the brachial artery using a blood pressure cuff.

Why it Matters
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, both of which are leading causes of death in the US.

Central Blood Pressure

What it Is
Calculated using pulse wave analysis and a traditional brachial cuff, central blood pressure measures pressure at the root of the aorta.

Why it Matters
Central blood pressure reflects key vascular issues such as arterial stiffness, which makes it a more accurate predictor of subclinical cardiovascular disease than traditional brachial blood pressure alone.

Subendocardial Viability Ratio

What it Is
Subendocardial viability ratio measures the supply of blood that flows to your inner heart muscle in relation to demand.

Why it Matters
SEVR offers insight into how well a person’s heart can handle the stress of exercise.

Augmentation Pressure

What it Is
Augmentation pressure refers to the increase in central aortic pressure caused pressure wave reflection.

Why it Matters
A marker of arterial stiffness, elevated augmentation pressure is associated with cardiovascular risk factors as well as increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Augmentation Index

What it Is
An indirect measure of arterial stiffness that increases with age, augmentation index reflects the burden stiff arteries place on the heart.

Why it Matters
Chronic stress on the heart and the cardiovascular system can lead to heart failure and hypertrophy (enlarged heart).

Central Pulse Pressure

What it Is
The height of pressure at the heart, central pulse pressure shows the pressure to which key organs like the heart, brain, and kidneys are exposed.

Why it Matters
Central pulse pressure helps identify the risk of end organ damage to key organs like the brain, kidney and heart.

Medical Grade Heart Rate
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Pulse Wave Velocity

What it Is
Pulse wave velocity measures arterial stiffness.

Why it Matters
Increases in arterial stiffness are generally based on the loss of elasticity in the aorta artery walls over time and increases the strain on the heart from heightened pressures. Increased aortic stiffness using PWV is a validated predictor of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality.

 
cbpCentral Blood Pressure

What it Is
Calculated using pulse wave analysis and a traditional brachial cuff, central blood pressure measures pressure at the root of the aorta.

Why it Matters
Central blood pressure reflects key vascular issues such as arterial stiffness, which makes it a more accurate predictor of subclinical cardiovascular disease than traditional brachial blood pressure alone.

 
bbpBrachial Blood Pressure

What it Is
Brachial blood pressure measures the pressure of blood at the brachial artery using a blood pressure cuff.

Why it Matters
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, both of which are leading causes of death in the US.

 
sevrSubendocardial Viability Ratio

What it Is
Subendocardial viability ratio measures the supply of blood that flows to your inner heart muscle in relation to demand.

Why it Matters SEVR offers insight into how well a person’s heart can handle the stress of exercise.

 
medical grade heart rateMedical Grade Heart Measurement

What it Is
A beat-to-beat heart rate measurement on par with standard ECG-based methods.

Why it Matters
A consistently high resting heart rate may be a sign of coronary heart disease and is associated with a greater risk of stroke.

 
cppCentral Pulse Pressure

What it Is
The height of pressure at the heart, central pulse pressure shows the pressure to which key organs like the heart, brain, and kidneys are exposed.

Why it Matters
Central pulse pressure helps identify the risk of end organ damage to key organs like the brain, kidney and heart.

 
cppPulse Wave Velocity

What it Is
Pulse wave velocity measures arterial stiffness.

Why it Matters
Increases in arterial stiffness are generally based on the loss of elasticity in the aorta artery walls over time and increases the strain on the heart from heightened pressures. Increased aortic stiffness using PWV is a validated predictor of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality.

 
augmentation pressureAugmentation Pressure

What it Is
Augmentation pressure refers to the increase in central aortic pressure caused pressure wave reflection.

Why it Matters
A marker of arterial stiffness, elevated augmentation pressure is associated with cardiovascular risk factors as well as increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

 
augmentation indexAugmentation Index

What it Is
An indirect measure of arterial stiffness that increases with age, augmentation index reflects the burden stiff arteries place on the heart.

Why it Matters
Chronic stress on the heart and the cardiovascular system can lead to heart failure and hypertrophy (enlarged heart).

Hover over each biomarker above to learn more

Enhance Prenatal Care with Vascular Biomarkers

Download Reimbursement Guide

In-Clinic

  • Assess preeclampsia risk at 1st visit & initiate home monitoring for high-risk patients.
  • Surveillance during regular visits through 6-wk postpartum visit.
  • Reimbursable with CPT 93050.

At Home

  • Ongoing monitoring to detect alterations in arterial functions and structure.
  • Reinforce aspirin regimen.
  • Reimbursable with CPT 9945x & 99091.
Spotlight

Gisele Bentley

Cambridge University, Cardiex Research Associate

Can we predict preeclampsia development?

Aortic Vascular Biomarkers for the Early Detection of Placental Syndromes During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

View the Research
Read the Article
Gisele Bently

SphygmoCor® XCEL

Capture comprehensive central hemodynamics and arterial stiffness insights at point-of-care and in clinical trials.

Explore XCEL

CONNEQT Pulse

Monitor arterial health insights with ease at home and on-the-go.

Explore Pulse

Oscar 2

Gold standard in 24-hour central hemodynamics and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).

Explore Oscar 2

1 Hao J, Hassen D, Hao Q, Graham J, Paglia MJ, Brown J, Cooper M, Schlieder V, Snyder SR. Maternal and Infant Health Care Costs Related to Preeclampsia. Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Dec;134(6):1227-1233. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003581. PMID: 31764733; PMCID: PMC6882523.

2 CDC Natality Database

3 Vinogradov R, Smith VJ, Robson SC, Araujo-Soares V. Aspirin non-adherence in pregnant women at risk of preeclampsia (ANA): a qualitative study. Health Psychol Behav Med. 2021;9(1):681-700. Published 2021 Aug 6. doi:10.1080/21642850.2021.1951273

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