Dyslipidemia is a persistent problem in puerperium with or without preeclampsia

To compare serum levels of triglycerides and cholesterol and the dyslipidemic factor (DLF): (triglycerides (mg/dl)/150) X (cholesterol (mg/dl)/200) among puerperal women with or without preeclampsia.

Three groups of puerperal women were formed: group A uncomplicated deliveries, group B deliveries complicated with preeclampsia that had not attended the Obstetric Intensive Care Unit (OICU); and group C puerperal women complicated with preeclampsia and that had attended the OICU.

The authors studied a total of 47 puerperal women, 14 without complications, 11 complicated with preeclampsia, and 22 complicated with preeclampsia requiring attention at the OICU. Thirteen (92.8%) puerperal women without complications and 100% of puerperal women complicated with preeclampsia had triglycerides higher than 150 mg/dl at least three days post-delivery. Furthermore, six puerperal women without complications (42.8%), one puerperal woman complicated with preeclampsia (9%), and eight puerperal women complicated with preeclampsia requiring attention at the OICU (36.3%) had levels in crescendo.

Hypertriglyceridemia is a persistent problem in puerperal women who suffered preeclampsia and the DLF could be a useful tool to evaluate a mixed lipemic state. Finally, preeclampsia and dyslipidemia might be considered as risk factors to develop chronic endothelial disease (CED).