Maternal serum lipid in women with preeclampsia in Lagos: a case control study.

OBJECTIVE: This was to determine the serum lipid profile of preeclamptic women and their association with severity of preeclampsia.

METHODS: This was a case control study conducted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. Blood samples for serum lipid estimation were collected after an overnight fast. The National Cholesterol Education Program - Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III criteria were used to define dyslipidemia.

RESULTS: Two hundred forty women participated in the study. The mean total cholesterol of preeclamptic and normotensive women was 309.9 ± 10.4 mg/dl and 237 ± 6.8 mg/dl, respectively. Both groups of women had higher than normal mean levels of triglycerides (TG) (203.3 ± 11.0 mg/dl versus 157.5 ± 7.1 mg/dl); low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-c (156.5 ± 11.0 mg/dl versus 109.7 ± 6.9 mg/dl); high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-c (63.2 ± 2.5 mg/dl versus 55.4 ± 1.8 mg/dl) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) (39.5 ± 2.0 mg/dl versus 31.5 ± 1.4 mg/dl). Fewer women with preeclampsia had isolated hypertriglyceridemia (95 versus 99%). Maternal serum total cholesterol (TC), TG, and LDL was significantly (p < .001) higher in severe, compared to mild preeclampsia. Pearson's correlation indicated that all lipids, including total cholesterol (r = 0.406) had positive correlation with preeclampsia.

CONCLUSION: There is elevated serum lipid in pregnancy irrespective of preeclampsia developing. The positive correlation of maternal serum lipids to preeclampsia suggests a casual relationship.