Serum lipid levels at 28-32 weeks gestation and hypertensive disorders.
BACKGROUND
The etiology and pathogenesis of hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy are poorly understood, and the definition of these disorders is controversial.


METHODS
In a prospective study, 470 primigravida women between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy were evaluated for serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride. Afterward, they were observed for any symptoms of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension until 40 weeks of gestational age. We than compared the serum lipid levels among women with preeclampsia and gestational hypertension with those of matched women with normal pregnancies.


RESULTS
The numbers of patients developing preeclampsia and gestational hypertension were 25 (5.3%) and 32 (6.8%), respectively. At the beginning of the study, the mean values of serum triglyceride levels between women who later experienced preeclampsia or gestational hypertension and those who did not differed significantly (p < 0.0001, p < 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Although many cases of gestational hypertension represent latent essential hypertension based on the lipid levels, some of these women display true pregnancy-induced hypertension or nonproteinuric preeclampsia.
Ziaei
Saeideh
S
Faculty of Medical Science, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, IR, Iran. ziaei_99@yahoo.com
Bonab
Khayyati Motlagh
KM
Kazemnejad
Anoshirvan
A
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol