The evaluation of the oxidative state of low-density lipoproteins in intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the oxidative state of lipoproteins in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in comparison to preeclampsia (PE) and healthy pregnant control subjects (CN).


METHODS
Maternal serum of 20 PE, 29 IUGR, and 29 gestational age-matched CN were analyzed. Total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-bound cholesterol (LDL-C), and oxidized LDL (oxLDL) concentration were measured once between 25 and 34 weeks of gestation. Statistical estimates were performed by Student's t-test.


RESULTS
Serum concentrations of LDL-C and TC were significantly reduced in IUGR [LDL-C: CN - mean = 146 mg/dL, SD = ± 40.1; IUGR - mean = 102 mg/dL, SD = ± 27.3 (p < 0.0001); PE - mean = 130 mg/dL, SD = 38.8 mg/dL; TC: CN - mean = 259/dL, SD = ± 46.8; IUGR - mean = 218 mg/dL, SD = ± 35.0 (p < 0.001); PE - mean = 244 mg/dL, SD = 48.2]. There was no significant difference in oxLDL/LDL-C ratio within the three groups (CN: mean = 0.76, SD = 0.24; IUGR: mean = 0.74, SD = 0.12; PE: mean = 0.77, SD = 0.22).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show a lower maternal LDL-C and TC concentration in IUGR pregnancies. These data contribute to the hypothesis of a decreased cholesterol supply to the fetus in IUGR. However, we could not confirm the hypothesis of an altered oxidative state in neither IUGR nor PE.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of the RWTH, Aachen, Germany. upecks@ukaachen.de
Ulrich
U
Pecks
Raphaela
R
Caspers
Barbara
B
Schiessl
Dirk
D
Bauerschlag
Daniela
D
Piroth
Nicolai
N
Maass
Werner
W
Rath
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
D008055:Lipids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein