The relationship between lipoprotein(a) and the severity of preeclampsia

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the serum lipoprotetn (a) levels in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia and to investigate the relationship between lipoprotein (a) and the severity of preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: The study group comprised of 80 pregnant women with preeclampsia (34 mild preeclamptic, 36 severe preeclamptic and 10 eclamptic cases) and a total of 80 healthy pregnant controls who attended the Obstetrics and Gynecology department. The control case with a similar gestational age was selected for each study case among the healthy pregnant women. Serum lipoprotein (a) levels were determined by the nephalometric method. In statistical analysis Mann Whitney U test was used. RESULTS: The serum lipoprotein (a) levels (Mean±SEM) in the mild preclampsia group and its control were (19.8±2.3-19.2±2.1 mg/dl), the severe preeclampsia group and its control were (26.7±2.9-21.2±2.5 mg/dl), the eclampsia group and its control were (20.9±5.1-16.8±6.3 mg/dl). None of the study groups had significantly different serum lipoprotein(a) levels when compared to their control groups respectively (p>0.05). There were not any significant correlation between the serum lipoprotein (a) levels and any other parameter studied the preeclamptic cases. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that serum lipoprotein (a) level did not play an important role in the diagnosis and severity of the preeclampsia.