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Prepregnancy obesity and complement system activation in early pregnancy and the subsequent development of

Anne M Lynch1, Robert H Eckel, James R Murphy

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|May 1, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Obese pregnant women with high levels of complement Bb or C3a face a significantly increased risk of preeclampsia. This study highlights the combined impact of obesity and elevated complement on preeclampsia development.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Immunology
  • Perinatal Medicine

Background:

  • Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity worldwide.
  • Obesity is a known risk factor for preeclampsia.
  • The role of the complement system in preeclampsia pathogenesis is under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the combined effect of pre-pregnancy obesity and elevated complement fragments (Bb and C3a) on preeclampsia risk.
  • To identify women at highest risk for developing preeclampsia.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 1013 pregnant women recruited before 20 weeks' gestation.
  • Measurement of complement Bb and C3a levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays from EDTA-plasma samples.
  • Analysis using univariable and multivariable logistic regression.

Main Results:

  • Obese women with top quartile levels of complement Bb had a 10.0-fold increased risk of preeclampsia.
  • Obese women with top quartile levels of complement C3a had an 8.8-fold increased risk of preeclampsia.
  • Both factors significantly increased preeclampsia likelihood compared to non-obese women with lower complement levels.

Conclusions:

  • Obesity and elevated complement fragments (Bb and C3a) synergistically increase preeclampsia risk.
  • Early pregnancy screening for obesity and complement levels may aid in identifying high-risk pregnancies.
  • Further research into complement pathways could reveal novel therapeutic targets for preeclampsia prevention.
Abstract

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