[Cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and beta-lipoprotein in diabetic pregnancy]

Follow up studies regarding lipid metabolism in diabetic pregnancy are important in maternal and fetal morbidity.

With this background it is particularly opportune to consider the difference of cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol of diabetics and nondiabetics in pregnancy. In addition the correlation of lipids to the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1), White groups and other clinical parameters is of interest. Attention is given to the comparison of insulin dependent diabetics (IDDM) and gestational diabetes (GDM) in the 3rd trimester.

A diabetic group of 84 patients (IDDM, GDM) was used for the prospective study over a two years period. The lipid metabolism was estimated preconceptionally, during pregnancy and on 7th day after delivery. 36 pregnant healthy women served as controls. The information obtained from each patient was entered into an SPSS data base. Statistical analysis were done by Mann-Whitney U and Kruskall-Wallis test and by means of Pearson's correlation coefficient to correlate with age, parity, body mass index, creatinin, albumiuria, HbA1, blood pressure.

There were no any correlations between lipid parameters cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, beta-lipoprotein and HbA1 as well as White groups (Pearson's coefficient). The triglyceride levels were significant lower in diabetic pregnants compared with healthy controls (p = 0.0095; Wilcoxon Test); diabetes: mean = 1,831 mmol/l; min 0.35; max 5.99 and control group mean = 2,133 mmol/l; min 0.36; max 4.70. Cholesterol levels were higher in the 3rd trimester of GDM patients than values of IDDM's (p = 0.0017; Wilcoxon Test). The longitudinal study during diabetic pregnancy resulted in significantly progressive increase in cholesterol and triglyceride levels (p = 0.0035 bzw. p = 0.0099; Kruskal-Wallis Test).

Significant lower triglyceride levels had been found in diabetic pregnants than in healthy controls. There was no any correlation between lipid parameters cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, beta-lipoprotein on the one side and HbA1 and White groups on the other side. Increased cholesterol levels were noted in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy in the gestational diabetes in comparison of insulin dependent pregnant diabetics.