Evidence of increased oxidative stress, unexplained by lipid changes, is present in nulliparous black women from early gestation.

OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that race-specific lipid changes in pregnancy could predispose to oxidative stress and might increase the risk of preeclampsia for black women. STUDY
DESIGN: Blood samples were obtained at five time points in pregnancy and postpartum for 15 black and 15 white women with normal pregnancy. Serum or plasma samples were analyzed for cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL total and subfractions, free fatty acids, uric acid, and malondialdehyde (MDA).
RESULTS: Cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol values were higher in white women than in black women (RMANOVA, p = 0.04) while MDA values were higher in blacks throughout pregnancy (RMANOVA, p = 0.03). Although not significantly different, black women had lower mean triglycerides, while mean total HDL and subfractions HDL2 and HDL3 were higher for black women. Both races evidenced smaller, denser LDL particle size with advancing gestation and a return to early pregnancy LDL particle size by 6 weeks' gestation.
CONCLUSION: These data do not support quantitative lipid change as the explanation for the increased incidence of preeclampsia in black women. Despite this, black women manifest increased evidence of oxidative stress, postulated to be an important contributor to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia from early gestation.