Maternal lipid change in relation to length of gestation: a prospective cohort study with preconception enrollment of women.

Background/aims: We sought to investigate the association between preconception serum lipids and their daily rate of change in relation to length of gestation.

Methods: In a cohort of 70 women, 61 (87%) became pregnant, resulting in 48 (69%) live births. Serum lipid measurements (in milligrams per deciliter) included total cholesterol, free cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids at preconception, upon human chorionic gonadotropin-confirmed pregnancy and following pregnancy loss (<14 weeks) or post partum. Pregnancy outcome (loss, preterm and term delivery) and gestational length were modeled relative to daily rate of change in lipids using multinomial regression and Cox proportional hazards models, respectively, adjusting for body mass index and smoking.

Results: A rate of triglyceride change below the median was associated with an increased risk for pregnancy loss compared with term birth (adjusted odds ratio: 9.02; 95% CI: 1.62-50.30). A rate of triglyceride change of ≤0.01 mg/dl per day versus above the median was associated with a trend for increased risk of pregnancy loss or preterm (<37 weeks) birth (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.77; 95% CI: 0.94-3.33).

Conclusion: A low rate of triglyceride change during early pregnancy may be a signal of risk of pregnancy loss or preterm birth. Lipids offer promise for identifying pregnancies at risk for adverse outcomes.