Intrauterine Exposure to Maternal Atherosclerotic Risk Factors Increases the Susceptibility to Atherosclerosis in Adult Life

Abstract

We conclude that the susceptibility to neointima formation of morphologically normal adult arteries is already imprinted during prenatal development and manifests itself in the presence of additional atherogenic risk factors in adult life. Future research will concentrate on the mechanisms involved in this priming process, as well as on prevention strategies.