Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: Aug | Volume: 7 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 127-131
A Comparative Study of Serum Triglyceride Levels in Normal Pregnancy and Preeclampsia
Dr Shilpa A.V1, Dr Zubaida P. A2, Dr Rajalekshmi G3
1Assistant Professor Physiology, Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Thrissur, Kerala.
2Professor Physiology, Government Medical College Kozhikode, Kerala, India
3Professor Physiology, Government Medical College Idukki, Kerala, India
Corresponding Author: Dr Zubaida P. A
ABSTRACT
Background and Objective: Pregnancy is a time of excitement and wonders tempered by natural concerns about the well-being of mother and developing foetus. Hypertensive disorders complicate 5 to10%of all pregnancies along with haemorrhage and infection forms the deadly triad that contributes greatly to maternal mortality and morbidity rates. How pregnancy incites or aggravates hypertension remains unsolved despite decades of intensive research. Indeed hypertensive disorders remain among the most significant and intriguing unsolved problem in obstetrics. Hypertriglyceridemia due to insulin resistance is accentuated in women with preeclampsia and eclampsia. Elevated triglycerides are found to be associated with oxidative stress and vascular dysfunction. The study was done to compare the serum triglyceride levels in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia. The values obtained were compared with normal nonpregnant women.
Methods: The present study was undertaken to find out the alterations in the circulating levels of serum triglyceride in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia when compared to normal nonpregnant women. The study was conducted by taking a statistical sample size of 30 subjects (18- 35 years) in each group. Data were analyzed using ANOVA. Significance level was fixed at p<0.05.
Results and Interpretation: The mean serum triglyceride levels of normal pregnant women in the third trimester was ( 221. 63 ± 39.58 mg /dL), significantly higher than in normal non pregnant women (106.27 ± 13.16 mg /dL). The mean serum triglyceride level of preeclamptic patients in this study (322.17 ± 76.75 mg /dL) was significantly higher than the mean serum triglyceride value (221.63 ± 39.58 mg /dL) in normal pregnant women and normal non pregnant women (106.27 ±13.16 mg /dL).
Conclusion: The high triglyceride levels seen during the last trimester of normal pregnancy is further increased in preeclampsia. The hypertriglyceridemia during preeclampsia is a probable contributor to future cardiovascular disease.
Key words: Preeclampsia, Triglyceride, Endothelial dysfunction.