A Comparative Study of Serum Lipid Profile in Preeclampsia and Normotensive Pregnancy: A Case-Control Study

Background & Objective: Preeclampsia, a frequent pregnancy-related condition, affects approximately 6%-8% of pregnancies in Egypt, with rates rising to 15% in referral centers such as university hospitals. This multisystem disorder, occurring after the 20th week of pregnancy, is marked by high blood pressure (≥140/90 mmHg) and proteinuria (≥300 mg/day), significantly contributing to both maternal and fetal complications and deaths. To investigate and compare the levels of serum lipids in two different groups of pregnant women: those with preeclampsia and those with normotensive (normal blood pressure) pregnancies.Materials & Methods: This comparative case-control study, conducted at Ain Shams University Maternity hospitals from January to October 2024, involved 70 pregnant women equally divided into two groups after obtaining ethical committee approval and informed consent from the participants.Results: Regarding biochemical analysis, the most compelling findings across studies, including ours, involve biochemical parameters, particularly lipid profiles. Our results showed significantly elevated levels of total plasma cholesterol (mean 232.11±60.13 mg/dl vs. 163.26±14.14 mg/dl) and LDL cholesterol (mean 136.43±61.07 mg/dl vs. 72.49±14.81 mg/dl) in the preeclamptic group compared to normotensive participants. Plasma triglycerides, LDL and VLDL levels were also higher in the preeclamptic group.Conclusion: This research confirms a significant link between dyslipidemia and preeclampsia, showing that women with preeclampsia have markedly elevated levels of TC, TGs, and LDL-C, along with reduced HDL-C levels, when compared to healthy normotensive individuals.