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Erythrocyte membrane composition in pregnancy‐induced hypertension: evidence for an altered lipid profile
Author(s) -
ANCESCHI M. M.,
COATA G.,
COSMI E. V.,
GAITI A.,
TROVARELLI G. F.,
RENZO G. C.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1992.tb13791.x
Subject(s) - phospholipid , pregnancy , cholesterol , medicine , endocrinology , red blood cell , gestation , lipid profile , erythrocyte membrane , biology , biochemistry , membrane , genetics
ABSTRACT Objective To investigate whether the increased membrane fluidity postulated as a possible contributing factor to the hypertensive states of pregnancy is related to the lipid composition of the erythrocyte membrane. Design An observational case control study. Subjects 30 women with pregnancy induced hypertension, 26 normotensive pregnant women matched for gestational age, and 10 normotensive non pregnant nulliparous women. Interventions Erythrocyte membranes were prepared from venous blood samples obtained from all the women. Main outcomes measures Lipid analysis, including cholesterol to phospholipids ratio, distribution of phospholipid classes and fatty acid composition of total phospholipids in erythrocyte ghosts. Results The cholesterol/phospholipid ratio was significantly higher in the women with pregnancy induced hypertension compared with the normotensive pregnant women (mean 1.24, SD 0.31, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.35 vs mean 0.90, SD 0.09, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.94; P <0.01 ). Normotensive non‐pregnant erythrocyte membrane cholesterol/ phospholipid ratio was 0.88 (SD 0.11, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.96). The percentage distribution of different phospholipid classes and fatty acid composition was similar in all the four groups. Conclusions The increased cholesterol/phospholipid ratio of the erythrocyte membrane found in pregnancy‐induced hypertension represents one factor involved in the pathophysiology of this condition and a possible biochemical marker of the disease.