Comparative Analysis of Serum Lipid Profile between Normotensive and Hypertensive Pakistani Pregnant Women

Abstract

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is one of a major cause of maternal mortality. Serum lipid profile plays pivotal role in the regulation of normal blood pressure during pregnancy. The aim of our study was to evaluate the alteration of serum lipid profile during normotensive and hypertensive pregnancy. This case-control study was conducted among the pregnant women visiting Jinnah Hospital Lahore, Pakistan from September, 2012 to March, 2013. Total 200 participants were evaluated out of which 50 were normotensive pregnant women (28 ± 8 years) taken as a normal control group and 150 were enrolled as hypertensive (30 ± 6 years) study group. Average blood pressure for normotensive pregnant women was 115/75 whereas, for hypertensive pregnant women it was 148.45/95.40. The levels of different serum lipids were measured using respective analytical kits. Hypertension was directly associated with increased levels of serum TGs (161.02 ± 3.58 vs. 105.31 ± 8.53), TC (188.90 ± 4.11 vs. 152.45 ± 1.99), LDL (136.50 ± 3.17 vs. 70.48 ± 2.14) and VLDL (117.06 ± 1.05 vs. 41.06 ± 1.70), and fall in HDL (49.41 ± 1.56 vs. 37.16 ± 1.64) as compared to that of normotensive pregnant women. The increased levels of TGs, TC, and LDL in hypertensive pregnant women were also correlated with significantly increased values of TC/HDL, TGs/HDL and LDL/HDL in hypertensive pregnant women. From the results of our study, it can be concluded that lipid profile plays their critical role in regulating blood pressure during pregnancy. Increased levels of TC, TGs, LDL and VLDL induced hypertension, whereas, HDL regulated the blood pressure to normal levels. This association may be significant in understanding the development of hypertension during pregnancy and may help in developing the strategies for prevention and treatment of PIH.