Abstract:

AIM: To compare the lipoprotein(a) levels in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women and to determine its role in the etiology of preeclampsia. METHODS: The study included 60 pregnant women in their third trimester pregnancies. The women were allocated into preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancy groups and compared by using the serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, LDL, VLDL and lipoprotein(a). Lipoprotein(a) levels were measured by using the ELISA technique. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows (10.0). Mann Whitney-U and Student’s t tests were used for comparing the groups. P < 0.05 was considered signifi cant. RESULTS: In comparison of normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancy groups, the measurements of plasma lipoprotein(a), total cholesterol, HDL, LDL levels did not show signifi cant differences (p > 0.05). Serum triglyceride and VLDL levels were signifi - cantly higher in preeclamptic group in comparison with the levels of the normotensive group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum lipoprotein(a) levels are similar in preeclampsia and normotensive pregnancy. In contrast, serum triglyceride and VLDL levels are higher in preeclamptic pregnancies than in normotensive pregnancies, thus the fact may help to identify the pathogenesis and the etiology of preeclampsia.

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