Identifying Biomarkers for Endothelial Dysfunction in Women With Preeclampsia

"Non-invasive test. A blood pressure cuff and tonometer (a type of pen placed on the neck) are used to measure the speed at which a pressure wave propagates from one place to another.~Every time the heart contracts, a pressure wave is generated that propagates from the heart to the blood vessels at a certain speed. The stiffer the blood vessels, the faster the wave propagates."

"This study measures the capacity with which blood vessels expand when we briefly cut off blood flow. The endothelium, the inner layer of blood vessels, regulates this expansion. By ultrasound, we measure the difference in diameter of the elbow artery. To cut off the blood flow, we clamp the forearm with a blood pressure cuff for 5 minutes.~When the blood pressure cuff is released, it triggers increased blood flow in the arm, causing the blood vessels to expand. We record this expansion using the above techniques."

Eye imaging measures the capacity with which your blood vessels in the retina can expand in response to a flicker light stimulation.