Endocrine Abstracts

Normal foetal development depends on endogenous lipid synthesis and maternal lipid transfer. Levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides (TG) all rise in pregnancy to meet the demands of the developing foetus. We aimed to evaluate (1)lipid changes throughout pregnancy (2)lipid changes in women with and without microvascular complications and (3)correlate lipid levels with pregnancy outcomes including large for gestational age infant (LGA),neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission and pre-eclampsia. We retrospectively analysed lipid levels from 40 Caucasian women with T1DM, 40 non-pregnant women (NP) and 124 women with normal glucose tolerance (healthy controls -HC). Women with T1DM had a median age of 33.75 years. Levels of TC, LDL and TG rose throughout pregnancy, peaking in the third trimester (6.9, 3.6, 2.95 mmol/lrespectively). When compared to a non-pregnant population, statistically significant differences appear in all lipid profiles in trimester 2 (TC 5.75 vs 4.1, HDL 2.2 vs 1.75, LDL 2.9 vs 2.1 and TG 1.55 vs 0.8 mmol/l, P < 0.01) and remained higher throughout trimester 3. When compared to normoglycaemic pregnant women, T1DM had higher HDL, LDL and TG levels in trimester 2 and 3 (2.1 vs 1.74, 3.6 vs 3.83 and 2.95 vs 2.44 mmol/lrespectively, P < 0.01). We did not find any association between elevated lipid levels and adverse outcomes. Significant changes in lipid levels are seen throughout pregnancy in women with T1DM. Elevated lipids levels did not contribute to adverse maternal or fetal outcomes.