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Published on: November 20, 2015
Newborns of pre-eclamptic women: a biochemical difference present in utero
Ella Ophir1, Gregory Dourleshter, Yael Hirsh
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Western Galilee Hospital, Technion University. P.O. Box 21, Nahariya 21000, Israel. oella@naharia.health.gov.il
Insights
Intrauterine exposure to pre-eclampsia alters newborn metabolic profiles, increasing cardiovascular disease risk factors. These changes suggest that the risks associated with pre-eclampsia begin before birth.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Neonatology
- Cardiovascular Disease Research
Background:
- Intrauterine exposure to pre-eclampsia is linked to higher adolescent systolic blood pressure and obesity in offspring.
- Metabolic changes, indicative of cardiovascular disease, may be influenced by the intrauterine environment affected by pre-eclampsia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of intrauterine exposure to pre-eclampsia on biochemical markers of cardiovascular disease in newborns and their mothers.
- To identify specific metabolic changes associated with pre-eclampsia in utero.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from 36 newborns exposed to pre-eclampsia in utero and their mothers, and from 35 controls (newborns and mothers).
- Serum levels of lipids, homocysteine, and fibrinogen were analyzed in all samples.
Main Results:
- Newborns exposed to pre-eclampsia had lower birth weight and abdominal circumference, with elevated low-density lipoprotein, homocysteine, and fibrinogen levels.
- Significant correlations were observed between maternal and newborn homocysteine and low-density lipoprotein levels.
- Maternal pre-eclampsia was associated with altered lipid profiles (higher triglycerides, lower HDL) and elevated homocysteine.
Conclusions:
- Intrauterine pre-eclampsia exposure is associated with adverse effects on biochemical cardiovascular disease risk markers in newborns.
- These findings indicate that cardiovascular risk for infants of pre-eclamptic mothers may originate during fetal development.
Background:
Offspring exposed to pre-eclampsia in utero had higher systolic blood pressure, and were more obese during adolescence. We hypothesized that metabolic changes, a marker of cardiovascular disease, may be affected by intrauterine exposure to pre-eclampsia.
Methods:
Blood samples were collected from cord blood of 36 newborns who were exposed to pre-eclampsia in utero and their mothers, and of 35 newborns and their mothers with noncomplicated pregnancies. Serum levels of lipids, homocysteine, and fibrinogen were determined in all samples.
Results:
Fetuses exposed to pre-eclampsia in utero had lower birth weight, smaller abdominal circumference (p<0.002; p<0.03 respectively) and higher levels of low-density lipoprotein, homocysteine, and fibrinogen (p<0.01; p<0.001; p<0.001, respectively), compared with fetuses of normotensive, pregnancies. A significant correlation existed between maternal homocysteine concentration and that of newborn infants (r=0.539; p<0.001) and between maternal low-density lipoprotein and newborn homocysteine (r=0.36; p<0.03). Significant negative correlations were found between abdominal circumference of newborns and cord blood concentration of fibrinogen (r= - 0.52; p<0.001) and low-density lipoprotein (r= - 0.42; p<0.001). Maternal plasma homocysteine, low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride were significantly higher, while high-density lipoprotein was significantly lower in pregnancies with pre-eclampsia as compared with the uncomplicated pregnancy group (p<0.001 for all). Cord blood level of low-density lipoprotein and fibrinogen were best predicted by abdominal circumference of newborn, though maternal level of homocysteine was the most powerful independent predictor of cord homocysteine.
Conclusion:
Intrauterine exposure to pre-eclampsia was associated with untoward effects on biochemical risk factor markers for cardiovascular disease. Our findings suggest that the cardiovascular risk of newborns of pre-eclamptic mothers may begin in utero.
