Apolipoprotein A-V concentration in preterm infants

Fetal organs require much lipid for growth, but the cord blood had low TG concentrations, compared to adult serum. We investigated the association between the concentration of apolipoprotein A-V (apoA-V) and lipid profile in cord blood and neonatal serum.

ApoA-V was identified as an important determinant of plasma triglyceride concentrations. We sought to determine the association between serum apoA-V concentrations and lipoprotein profile in preterm infants and its early postnatal change.

Sixty-three neonates (35 males and 28 females; 15 term and 48 preterm) were included. Serum lipoprotein profile and apoA-V concentrations were determined at birth and 1 month.

Cord blood apoA-V concentrations in appropriate-for-gestational age infants were extremely low (13.1 ± 3.4 ng/mL in term infants, 4.4 ± 0.9 ng/mL in preterm infants) compared with adult values, and those of small-for-gestational age infants were further low (6.4 ± 4.2 ng/mL, 2.2 ± 1.3 ng/mL, respectively). During the first month, serum apoA-V concentration markedly increased, and the concentration of preterm appropriate-for-gestational age infants caught up, whereas that of preterm small-for-gestational age infants did not. At birth, apoA-V concentration positively correlated with gestational age (r = 0.354, P = .0069) but not with birth weight Z-score. ApoA-V concentration had a positive association with very low-density lipoprotein triglyceride concentrations (r = 0.646, P < .0001), and the relationships still remained at 1 month (r = 0.283, P = .0348).

ApoA-V in neonates was unique in its serum concentration and in the association with lipoprotein profile.