Preterm birth, vascular function, and risk factors for atherosclerosis

Low birthweight may predispose to the development of atherosclerosis later in life. The authors have tested the hypothesis that low birthweight as a result of preterm birth is associated with reduced flow-mediated endothelial-dependent vasodilation (FMD), which is an early stage in the development of atherosclerosis. Mean FMD in adolescents born preterm who had a low birthweight did not differ from that for controls born at term (0Â·225 mm vs 0Â·220 mm, SD 0Â·1 for both means, p=0Â·78). Such findings indicate that low birthweight attributable to prematurity does not increase the risk of vascular disease later in life.