ECEESPE2025 ePoster Presentations Fetal and Neonatal Endocrinology (27 abstracts)
Cardiometabolic function in offspring, mother and placenta after assisted reproductive technology (COMPART)
Anna Sophie Lebech Kjaer 1,2 , Maria Linander Vestager 2 , Louise Laub Asserhøj 1 , Julie Kloppenborg 2 , Kristine Løssl 1 , Tine D Clausen 3 , Charlotte Kvist Ekelund 4 , Line Rode 5 , Line Hjort 6 , Eva R Hoffmann 7 , Julie Lyng Forman 8 , Anja Pinborg 1 & Rikke Jensen 2
1Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, The Fertility Clinic, Department of Gynaecology, Fertility and Obstetrics, Copenhagen, Denmark; 2Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev Hospital, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen, Denmark; 3Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, The Obstetrics Clinic, Department of Gynaecology, Fertility and Obstetrics, Copenhagen, Denmark; 4Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, The Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Gynaecology, Fertility and Obstetrics, Copenhagen, Denmark; 5Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet Glostrup, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen, Denmark; 6University of Copenhagen, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Copenhagen, Denmark; 7University of Copenhagen, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Copenhagen, Denmark; 8University of Copenhagen, Section of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, Copenhagen, Denmark
JOINT3004
Background: The increasing rate of infertility drives rapid advancements in assisted reproductive technology (ART). Improved cryopreservation techniques have significantly increased the use of embryos that have been frozen/thawed (frozen embryo transfer; FET) in ART. FET offers benefits over conventional fresh embryo transfer (fresh-ET) by reducing some pregnancy complications associated with fresh-ET. However, Fet also carries increased obstetric and perinatal risks, such as preeclampsia, increased birthweight and increased risk of being born large for gestational age (LGA). Both preeclampsia and LGA is known to predispose children to obesity and later cardiometabolic diseases.
Aim: The study aims to uncover the mechanism underlying the altered obstetric outcomes and fetal growth following FET and to determine the health implications for the children. The study hypothesizes that the freezing/thawing induces epigenetic changes in the embryo causing fetal and placental overgrowth. This leads to preeclampsia and LGA and potentially impacts cardiometabolic health in the children.
Methods: The prospective cohort will include 600 pregnant women, partners and offspring, equally comprised of pregnancies achieved after ART with FET, ART with fresh-ET and naturally conceived (NC) pregnancies. The study includes extensive data collection from medical records, questionnaires, laboratory tests and clinical examinations. The pregnant women undergo three examinations during pregnancy to assess biomarkers of preeclampsia and maternal metabolism and growth factors. Fetal growth is determined by serial ultrasound scans. Epigenetic and transcriptomic profiles in placenta and cord blood is investigated upon delivery. The children are examined at three months of age with evaluation of body composition by an air displacement plethysmography scan and a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan. Cardiometabolic biomarkers and hormones of minipuberty are analyzed in blood samples. To determine the genetic contribution to phenotypic traits, single-nuclei-polymorphism genotyping is performed and a polygenic score for major cardiometabolic traits calculated. The study commenced May 2024, currently 201 participants are enrolled and 25 children born.
Outcomes and scientific impact: The study is powered to detect a difference in birthweight (SDS) between FET, Fresh-ET and NC. Secondary outcomes are grouped into work packages and compared between the groups. WP2 (pregnancy): incidence of preeclampsia, WP3 (placenta): placental weight, WP4 (child): fat percentage, WP5 (epigenetics): DNA methylation in cord blood and placenta, WP6 (genetics): deviation from genetically determined birthweight. Several exploratory outcomes are defined. We expect our study to identify key mechanisms related to outcomes after FET that could inform clinical practices and improve long-term health for mothers and children conceived after ART.
Volume 110
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Endocrine Abstracts
ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)
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