DEcreased Cognitive functiON, NEurovascular CorrelaTes and myocardial changes in women with a history of pre-eclampsia (DECONNECT): research protocol for a cross-sectional pilot study
Marc E A Spaanderman,
Chahinda Ghossein-Doha,
Sander MJ van Kuijk,
Gwyneth Jansen,
Walter H Backes,
Emma B N J Janssen,
Yentl Brandt,
Robert-Jan Alers,
Lisanne P W Canjels,
Laura M Jorissen,
Tamara Michelle Went,
Dennis Koehn,
Suzanne C Gerretsen,
Petra P M Hurks,
Vincent van de Ven,
M Eline Kooi,
Jacobus FA Jansen
Affiliations
Marc E A Spaanderman
School for Oncology and Developmental Biology (GROW), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Chahinda Ghossein-Doha
School for Cardiovascular Diseases (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Sander MJ van Kuijk
Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Gwyneth Jansen
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Walter H Backes
Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Emma B N J Janssen
School for Cardiovascular Diseases (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Yentl Brandt
School for Cardiovascular Diseases (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Robert-Jan Alers
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Lisanne P W Canjels
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Laura M Jorissen
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Tamara Michelle Went
Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Dennis Koehn
Pie Medical Imaging BV, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Suzanne C Gerretsen
Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Petra P M Hurks
Department of Neuropsychology and Psychofarmacology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Vincent van de Ven
Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
M Eline Kooi
Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Jacobus FA Jansen
Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Introduction Pre-eclampsia is a hypertensive disorder affecting up to 8% of pregnancies. After pre-eclampsia, women are at increased risk of cognitive problems, and cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disorders. These sequelae could result from microvascular dysfunction persisting after pre-eclampsia. This study will explore differences in cerebral and myocardial microvascular function between women after pre-eclampsia and women after normotensive gestation. We hypothesise that pre-eclampsia alters cerebral and myocardial microvascular functions, which in turn are related to diminished cognitive and cardiac performance.Methods and analysis The cross-sectional ‘DEcreased Cognitive functiON, NEurovascular CorrelaTes and myocardial changes in women with a history of pre-eclampsia’ (DECONNECT) pilot study includes women after pre-eclampsia and controls after normotensive pregnancy between 6 months and 20 years after gestation. We recruit women from the Queen of Hearts study, a study investigating subclinical heart failure after pre-eclampsia. Neuropsychological tests are employed to assess different cognitive domains, including attention, processing speed, and cognitive control. Cerebral images are recorded using a 7 Tesla MRI to assess blood–brain barrier integrity, perfusion, blood flow, functional and structural networks, and anatomical dimensions. Cardiac images are recorded using a 3 Tesla MRI to assess cardiac perfusion, strain, dimensions, mass, and degree of fibrosis. We assess the effect of a history of pre-eclampsia using multivariable regression analyses.Ethics and dissemination This study is approved by the Ethics Committee of Maastricht University Medical Centre (METC azM/UM, NL47252.068.14). Knowledge dissemination will include scientific publications, presentations at conferences and public forums, and social media.Trial registration number NCT02347540.
