title: High Lp(a) lipoprotein level in maternal serum may interfere with placental circulation and cause fetal growth retardation.
abstract: We report on a woman with an Lp(a) lipoprotein level above the 99th centile of the population distribution of concentrations, who at the age of 43 had had deep vein thrombosis causing a pulmonary embolus and whose brother, who also had a very high level, had suffered a cerebral infarction at the age of 43. She had given birth to three children, all with very low birth weight, one of whom died when 3 months old. The placentas had been small and ischemic. The concurrence of a very high Lp(a) lipoprotein level, familial thromboembolic disease and recurrent placental ischemia with delivery of children with low birth weight suggests the possibility that a very high Lp(a) lipoprotein concentration may predispose to placental insufficiency, presumably arising from pathological changes in maternal uterine vessels in the placental bed. If confirmed, a very high Lp(a) lipoprotein level may be a factor to consider in women who have repeated pregnancies with placental insufficiency and who give birth to children with low birth weight.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roald
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sande
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D017270:Lipoprotein(a)