A peripheral blood sample was collected from each participant before 19 weeks + 6 days; samples were collected in a vacutainer collection tube. We used the blood samples to determine the lipid profile of each participant, including triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C); these parameters were determined with an auto-analyzer (AU1000; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan).
Maternal echocardiography was also performed between 16 weeks + 0 days and 19 weeks + 6 days. All images were obtained using a Philips iE33 system (Philips Medical Systems, Bothell, WA, USA) with a 1.5/5 MHz phased array probe. Maternal EAT thickness was measured by echocardiography in the parasternal long-axis view at the level of the fold of Rindfleisch, between the free wall of the right ventricle and the anterior surface of the ascending aorta [12 (link)].