Association between maternal lipid profile in the third trimester and pre-eclampsia in women with normal...

During pregnancy, there is a notable increase in circulating lipid levels, with the most pronounced increase observed in triglycerides. Lipid levels during pregnancy influence placental vascular development, which may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia (PE). The objective of this retrospective study was to investigate associations between the maternal lipid profile in the third trimester and risk of PE.

In total, 1881 pregnant women who delivered at Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were enrolled in this study. Serum lipid levels were measured during the third trimester (>28 weeks of gestation) in the hospital. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine possible associations between the maternal lipid profile and risk of PE.

Among 1881 pregnant women, 60 (3.2 %) were diagnosed with PE. Significant differences in triglyceride level were observed between the PE and non-PE groups in pregnant women with a normal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.05). Triglyceride level was significantly associated with increased risk of PE (adjusted odds ratio 1.182, 95 % confidence interval 1.036-1.348).

A positive association was found between triglyceride level and risk of PE in women with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI. Therefore, lipid profiles in normal-weight pregnant women warrant closer attention, and PE can be monitored by measuring the maternal lipid profile during the third trimester.