Serum lipids and malondialdehyde levels in primiparous patients with pregnancy induced hypertension

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) contributes to 15.6% maternal mortality in India. In Behrampur, Orissa, maternal deaths due to PIH was 32%, which is twice the national incidence. Hence in this population, some factors associated with severity of PIH were studied. Serum lipid concentrations and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were correlated with severity of PIH and birth weight of the neonate Patients & Methods : 70 primiparous PIH patients and 20 healthy controls were studied. Serum lipids and MDA were estimated. Maternal blood pressures and birth weights of the neonate were recorded. Results and Conclusion: Serum cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, VLDL and MDA were significantly elevated in primiparous PIH patients when compared to control subjects. Average birth weight of babies born to mothers with PIH was less than those born to control subjects. The most significant factor was that in this geographical area, 26% of the primiparous patients with PIH were below 20 years of age while only 15% of the controls were less than 20 years, indicating that younger maternal age was a contributing factor to PIH.