Serum lipid levels at 28-32 weeks gestation and hypertensive disorders

The etiology and pathogenesis of hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy are poorly understood, and the definition of these disorders is controversial.

In a prospective study, 470 primigravida women between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy were evaluated for serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride. Afterward, they were observed for any symptoms of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension until 40 weeks of gestational age. We than compared the serum lipid levels among women with preeclampsia and gestational hypertension with those of matched women with normal pregnancies.

The numbers of patients developing preeclampsia and gestational hypertension were 25 (5.3%) and 32 (6.8%), respectively. At the beginning of the study, the mean values of serum triglyceride levels between women who later experienced preeclampsia or gestational hypertension and those who did not differed significantly (p < 0.0001, p < 0.03).

Although many cases of gestational hypertension represent latent essential hypertension based on the lipid levels, some of these women display true pregnancy-induced hypertension or nonproteinuric preeclampsia.