Maternal serum lipid in women with preeclampsia in Lagos: a case control study

Abstract

Objective: This was to determine the serum lipid profile of preeclamptic women and their association with severity of preeclampsia.

Methods: This was a case control study conducted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. Blood samples for serum lipid estimation were collected after an overnight fast. The National Cholesterol Education Program – Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III criteria were used to define dyslipidemia.

Results: Two hundred forty women participated in the study. The mean total cholesterol of preeclamptic and normotensive women was 309.9 ± 10.4 mg/dl and 237 ± 6.8 mg/dl, respectively. Both groups of women had higher than normal mean levels of triglycerides (TG) (203.3 ± 11.0 mg/dl versus 157.5 ± 7.1 mg/dl); low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-c (156.5 ± 11.0 mg/dl versus 109.7 ± 6.9 mg/dl); high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-c (63.2 ± 2.5 mg/dl versus 55.4 ± 1.8 mg/dl) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) (39.5 ± 2.0 mg/dl versus 31.5 ± 1.4 mg/dl). Fewer women with preeclampsia had isolated hypertriglyceridemia (95 versus 99%). Maternal serum total cholesterol (TC), TG, and LDL was significantly (p < .001) higher in severe, compared to mild preeclampsia. Pearson’s correlation indicated that all lipids, including total cholesterol (r = 0.406) had positive correlation with preeclampsia.

Conclusion: There is elevated serum lipid in pregnancy irrespective of preeclampsia developing. The positive correlation of maternal serum lipids to preeclampsia suggests a casual relationship.

Keywords:

• Lipids in preeclampsia
• preeclampsia
• serum lipids

Acknowledgments

The support provided during the implementation of this research by Dr. M. Owonikoko of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria is acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.