title: Association of midgestation paraoxonase 1 activity and pregnancies complicated by preterm birth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to determine whether an association exists between low paraoxonase 1 activity and dyslipidemia at midgestation and preterm birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a case-control study of 30 women with preterm birth and 90 women with uncomplicated term deliveries. Maternal serum collected at 15-20 weeks was used to measure lipid concentrations and paraoxonase 1 activity using 2 substrates: paraoxon and phenylacetate (arylesterase activity).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The groups did not differ with respect to maternal demographics. Paraoxonase 1 activity (paraoxon) was significantly lower in women delivering preterm compared with controls (12.9 +/- 6.1 vs 16.6 +/- 7.7 dA/min; P = .02). Arylesterase activity and serum lipid concentrations were similar between women with preterm birth and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Midgestation paraoxonase 1 activity is lower in women who later experience spontaneous preterm birth compared with women who have term deliveries. Prospective studies are needed to determine the significance of paraoxonase 1 in the pathogenesis of preterm birth.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Arthur M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Sina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haeri
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boggess
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D010261:Paraoxon / Q000097:blood; D010648:Phenylacetates / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D010648:Phenylacetates; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase; C025136:phenylacetic acid; D010261:Paraoxon