Early pregnancy lipid concentrations and spontaneous preterm birth.
OBJECTIVE
Women who deliver preterm infants may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, perhaps related to dyslipidemia.


METHODS
In a nested case control study of women with spontaneous preterm birth, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides were evaluated. Lipid concentrations and gestational changes, as well as risk for preterm birth, were evaluated in women who delivered <34 (n = 23), >or=34-<37 (n = 67), and >or=37 weeks (n = 199).


RESULTS
High cholesterol or triglycerides <or=15 weeks were associated with a 2.8-fold (1.0-7.9) and 2.0-fold (1.0-3.9) increased risk for preterm birth <34 weeks and >or=34-<37 weeks, respectively. Overweight women who delivered <34 weeks had particularly elevated early pregnancy concentrations of cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein; lean women with moderate preterm birth had elevated triglycerides. There was a reduced triglyceride response in the first half of pregnancy among women who delivered <34 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate the presence of dyslipidemia in women with spontaneous preterm birth.
Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. jmcst43@pitt.edu
Janet M
JM
Catov
Lisa M
LM
Bodnar
Kevin E
KE
Kip
Carl
C
Hubel
Roberta B
RB
Ness
Gail
G
Harger
James M
JM
Roberts
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies
D008055:Lipids