Evaluating the association between all components of the metabolic syndrome and pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
Hypothesising that metabolic syndrome may be associated with or useful in the prediction of pre-eclampsia, we investigated the association between all components of metabolic syndrome and C-reactive protein (CRP) in women with and without pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
A case-control study was performed. Cases had gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia and controls were term deliveries. Clinical data and maternal serum was collected. The presence of metabolic syndrome (3/5 variables present) and a metabolic score (continuous 0-5) were investigated. Significant associations were evaluated using t-tests, and Pearson chi-square tests of association. Multivariable logistic regression was used to control for confounders.


RESULTS
One-hundred and one cases and 267 controls were evaluated. We observed a higher odds of pre-eclampsia when metabolic syndrome was present (AOR = 2.71 [1.1-6.67], p = 0.03). For every one-unit increase in metabolic score, there was a 39% increased odds of pre-eclampsia (AOR = 1.39 [1.06-1.82], p = 0.017). The odds of pre-eclampsia were nearly four times higher when hs- CRP was >8 (AOR = 3.61 [2.14-6.12], p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Metabolic syndrome and hs-CRP are associated with pre-eclampsia. Investigation is crucial to determine if these abnormal lipid and inflammatory pathways observed in women with pre-eclampsia are present pre-pregnancy or develop as a result of the disease process of pre-eclampsia. Further investigation is also warranted to determine whether these abnormalities persist post-pregnancy and if so, their contribution to long-term cardiovascular disease.
Srinivas
Sindhu K
SK
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. ssrinivas@obgyn.upenn.edu
Sammel
Mary D
MD
Bastek
Jamie
J
Ofori
Ella
E
Andrela
Christina M
CM
Wolfe
Megan L
ML
Reilly
Muredach
M
Elovitz
Michal A
MA
D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D047929:Term Birth / Q000097:blood
D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein