SERUM LIPIDS AND LIPOPROTEINS AT BIRTH BASED ON A STUDY OF 2815 NEWOKN INFANTS

Abstract

Abstract. In a consecutive series of 2 815 newborn infants the triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol (CHOL) concentrations were determined in total cord serum and in high density lipoprotein (HDL) containing serum after precipitation of very low (VLDL) and low density lipoproteins (LDL) with heparin manganese chloride. The serum Concentrations of TG and CHOL in VLDL+LDL were calculated as the differences between the concentrations in total serum and HDL. By multiple, stepwise, linear regression analysis the influence of various factors during pregnancy and delivery on the serum concentrations of TG and CHOL totally and in lipoproteins was investigated. All investigated factors had only minor or no influence on the lipid concentrations. For CHOL the sex was the variable with the highest coefficient of determination. Infants of diabetic mothers had a higher serum con centration of total and HDL CHOL. Gestational age, Apgar score, duration of labour, maternal blood pressure and dysmaturity showed a positive and birth weight a negative correlation with the TG content in total serum and lipoproteins. These factors did not, how ever, explain all the high serum concentrations of TG and CHOL, either totally or in lipo proteins. It is concluded that other factors are more important than materno‐foetal complica tions in determining the lipid and lipoprotein levels at birth.