Abstract

Introduction: Lipoprotein(a) due to its thrombogenic properties, probably plays an important role in EPHgestosis vascular injury patients. Aspirin may influence the relationship between lp(a) and vascular pathology.Material and methods: This study assessed serum Lp(a) levels in 45 healthy pregnant women (HPW), 27 women with mild or moderate gestosis and in 30 non-pregnant women. Gestosis patients comprised 10 women treated with low-dose aspirin (0.15 g/day) during the last three months of pregnancy (Asp-EPH group) and 17 women who did not receive the drug (Non-Asp-EPH group). In EPH-gestosis subjects, Lp(a) concentrations were assessed (by means of a nephelometric immunoassay method) from blood samples withdrawn three months before delivery and at the day of the expected delivery, while in HPW only during the day of expected delivery. Results: Serum Lp(a) concentration levels at term of expected delivery were of similar magnitude in HPW, Asp-EPH and Non-Asp-EPH patients (27.3±4.4 vs. 39.8±14.1 vs. 26.3±4.6 mg/dl). Although these values exceeded those of the control group (17.7±4.4 mg/dl) the difference was statistically insignificant (all values as mean±SEM). In Asp-EPH and Non-Asp-EPH women, serum Lp(a) concentrations did not change significantly during the last three months of pregnancy (from 29.3±10.4 to 39.8±14.1 and from 36.2±5.6 to 26.3±4.6 mg/dl, respectively). Conclusions: Pregnant women with mild or moderate gestosis demonstrate serum Lp(a) levels of similar magnitude as HPW. Low-dose aspirin treatment for three months does not significantly influence serum Lp(a) concentrations in EPH-gestosis patients.

Keywords: Lp(a), EPH-gestosis