Plasma apolipoprotein A-I and B concentrations in growth-retarded fetuses: a link between low birth weight and adult atherosclerosis.
Apolipoprotein B is elevated in growth-retarded compared with normally grown fetuses, demonstrating a link between low birth weight and risk of subsequent atherosclerosis. Increased apolipoprotein B levels and an elevated apolipoprotein B to A-I ratio are predictors of atherogenesis. Elevated apolipoprotein B levels in young adults have been linked to atherosclerosis in later life, whereas impaired fetal growth has been linked to higher than normal apolipoprotein B levels in adulthood. We conducted this research to test the hypothesis that circulating apolipoprotein A-I and B concentrations differ in growth-retarded compared with normal fetuses. Fetal umbilical plasma samples were obtained at diagnostic cordocenteses in 18 growth-retarded and 23 normally grown fetuses. Levels of apolipoprotein A-I and B were measured by turbidimetric assay. There were no differences in median (range) plasma apolipoprotein A-I concentrations between growth-retarded and normal fetuses [0.61 (0.30-1.42) vs. 0.60 (0.30-1.63) g/L, respectively; P = 0.94]. In contrast, we found significantly higher plasma apolipoprotein B levels in growth-retarded vs. normal fetuses [0.62 (0.37-1.84) vs. 0.40 (0.16-1.47) g/L, respectively; P<0.001]. Moreover, the ratio of apolipoprotein B to A-I was significantly higher in growth-retarded than in normal fetuses [1.00 (0.38-2.42) vs. 0.53 (0.31-1.80); P = 0.005]. Levels of apolipoprotein B are elevated in growth-retarded fetuses, suggesting a linkage between low birth weight and adult-onset atherosclerosis.
Radunovic
N
N
Obstetrical and Gynecological Clinic of the University of Belgrade School of Medicine, Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
Kuczynski
E
E
Rosen
T
T
Dukanac
J
J
Petkovic
S
S
Lockwood
C J
CJ
D000328:Adult; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood*; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D014280:Triglycerides