Abstract 9582: Maternal Triglyceride Levels Were Associated with Gestational Hypertension but Were Not Associated with Fetal Growth in Normal Pregnancy

Abstract

Introduction: Abundant lipid supply and moderate mobilization of lipid metabolism allow proper nutrients for fetal development during pregnancy. However, knowledge of whether and how lipid levels associated with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia is inconsistent and no reference standards are currently defined for lipid parameters during pregnancy. Hypothesis: Higher maternal triglyceride (TG) levels were associated with pregnancy complications and that a wide range of TG levels was sufficient for fetal growth. Methods: A case-control study combined with a cross-sectional study. 464 patients with gestational hypertension and/or preeclampsia were pooled into a case group. A total of 1077 women with full-term pregnancies and no pregnancy complications were selected as controls. Results: Maternal levels of TG were significantly higher in the case group than in controls in all gestational weeks (12 to 16). Maternal levels of TG, total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) in healthy controls increased gradually and significantly with increasing gestational week, however, these lipid concentrations lost their steady elevating trends with gestational week increases in the case group. Binary logistic regression showed that TG is a risk factor associated with hypertension and/or preeclampsia at gestational weeks 12 to 16 and independent to maternal blood levels of glucose and LDL-C. The odds ratios for gestational complications were 2.24 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31 - 3.83], 2.11 (95%CI: 1.35 - 4.13), 2.61 (95%CI: 1.10 - 6.17), 2.45 (95%CI: 1.27 - 4.52) and 2.36 (95%CI: 1.17 - 4.32) respectively in case women with TG levels higher than the 75th percentile of healthy controls at gestational weeks 12 to 16. Of the healthy controls at gestational weeks 12 to 16, quantile regression showed that TG levels were not associated with real-time fetal growth measurements or final birthweight. The reference standards for maternal TG levels were estimated via the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles by gestational week. Conclusions: Maternal TG levels are associated with gestational hypertension and/or preeclampsia, and a wide range of TG levels is sufficient for fetal growth within a given gestational week.