title: Searching for a common mechanism for placenta-mediated pregnancy complications and cardiovascular disease: role of lipoprotein(a).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], a well known cardiovascular risk factor, in women with history of placenta-mediated pregnancy complications (PMPC) compared with healthy uneventful-pregnancy women (HW), and the role of LPA gene functional polymorphisms in modulating both Lp(a) levels and PMPC risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 360 women with history of PMPC (154 preeclampsia [PE], 121 stillbirth [SB], and 85 small for gestational age [SGA]) and 270 HW.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lp(a) levels measurement and LPA +93C >T and +121G>A polymorphisms genotyping.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In PMPCs we observed higher Lp(a) levels than those found in HW and an association with PMPC risk, also after adjustment for age, familial history of cardiovascular disease, and traditional risk factors. By analyzing Lp(a) concentrations according to each pregnancy complication, we observed significantly higher Lp(a) levels in women with history of SB and PE, conferring 2.5-fold and 2-fold increased risks, respectively; no association with SGA was observed. Lp(a) concentrations progressively and significantly increased as LPA unfavorable allelic burden increased; unfavorable allelic burden influenced SB and PE risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We evidenced, for the first time, an association between high Lp(a) concentrations and history of SB, and we confirmed the role of Lp(a) in PE risk; this well known atherothrombotic marker might represent one of the possible mechanisms shared by PMPC and cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Thrombosis Center, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Romagnuolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart and Vessels, Thrombosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sticchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Thrombosis Center, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Department of Heart and Vessels, Thrombosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Attanasio
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Thrombosis Center, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grifoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Thrombosis Center, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cioni
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart and Vessels, Thrombosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Paola
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Cellai
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Thrombosis Center, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Department of Heart and Vessels, Thrombosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abbate
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Thrombosis Center, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Department of Heart and Vessels, Thrombosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: cinzia.fatini@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fatini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000097:blood; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010927:Placental Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017270:Lipoprotein(a)
keywords: LPA gene; Lipoprotein(a); preeclampsia; stillbirth