title: Lipoprotein (a) levels in normal pregnancy and in pregnancy complicated with pre-eclampsia.
abstract: Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) is recognised as a risk factor for arterial and venous thrombosis, a property which may relate to its structural similarity to plasminogen. Pregnancy is associated with a hypofibrinolytic state. Elevated Lp(a) may influence fibrinolysis and have an unfavourable role in pregnancy outcome. In this study alterations in plasma Lp(a) concentrations during normal pregnancy was examined, in a detailed longitudinal investigation, in ten women together with changes in other lipid parameters. In addition, Lp(a) concentrations were examined in subjects with pre-eclampsia (n=10) relative to matched controls (n=10), since it has recently been reported that a substantial increase in circulating Lp(a) occurs in this disorder. Lp(a) concentration increased steadily in normal pregnancy between 10 and 35 weeks with a doubling of the median value from 14.5 to 27.0 mg/dl (P=0.01). A significant increase in Lp(a) values was observed in all subjects with increasing gestation (median rise 190%, range 117-340%). This increase was intermediate to those seen in plasma triglyceride and cholesterol. No significant difference in Lp(a) values was observed in subjects with pre-eclampsia, compared with matched normal pregnancy controls (median 14 mg/dl [IQR 4.7-69.0] in pre-eclampsia vs 20 mg/dl [9.0-56. 3] in controls; P=0.57), at a median gestation of 32 weeks. In conclusion, there is a 2-fold increase in Lp(a) during normal pregnancy, which may influence fibrinolysis. Circulating Lp(a) is not significantly elevated in women with pre-eclampsia, and thus is unlikely to play a role in the pathophysiology of this disorder.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Biochemistry, 3rd Floor, Macewen Building, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sattar
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Greer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Packard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D017270:Lipoprotein(a)