Serum lipids and lipoproteins in pregnancies associated with emesis gravidarum

Abstract

Nausea and/or vomiting in pregnancy (emesis gravidarum) is a very common event. The specific etiology of this disorder is still unknown. In this study we examined serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in 98 healthy pregnant women in early and late pregnancy. Sixty of these women complained of emesis gravidarum. Compared to non-pregnant controls the pregnancy values of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids were elevated in all subjects due to an increase in all lipoprotein classes. In addition, low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) were enriched in triglycerides relative to other components. Differences in serum lipids and lipoproteins between the emetic and non-emetic subjects were found. The lipid contents of LDL and HDL were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in the emetic women in early pregnancy. During late pregnancy the total lipid content in all fractions was higher in previously emetic subjects. Thus, a metabolic difference between the groups persisted throughout pregnancy. It is suggested that an altered influence of estrogen on the liver might be responsible for these dissimilarities.

Paraoxonase-1 activity in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum

“…Similar results were demonstrated in another previous study. 32 In this study, PON-1 activity was significantly lower in pregnancies complicated by hyperemesis gravidarum. Pregnant women with hyperemesis had increased TG, LDL, TC, HSCRP and LOOH levels and decreased levels of HDL compared to healthy pregnancies.…”

Serum lipid profile, oxidative status, and paraoxonase 1 activity in hyperemesis gravidarum

“…Previous reports (13) show higher levels of LDL-C, lower levels of HDL-C, and apolipoprotein A1 (6) in normal pregnancy than (6,13) in HG pregnancy. Our study indicates no significant differences between normal controls and HG subjects' TC, TG, LDL-C, and apo B levels, and HDL-C and apo A1 levels were significantly lower in HG patients.…”

Nausea and Vomiting in Late Pregnancy

“…The efferent pathways relay the signals that lead to the coordinated respiratory, gastrointestinal, and abdominal muscle expulsive movements and the accompanying emetic epiphenomena called vomiting. Jarnfelt-Samsoie, Eriksson, Mattsson, and Samsoie (1987) have proposed that hormonal changes in pregnancy due to high levels of circulating steroids, such as estrogen, progesterone, or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), may directly stimulate the chemoreceptor cells in the vomiting center (Jarnfelt-Samsoie, 1987).…”