OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine whether an association exists between low paraoxonase 1 activity and dyslipidemia at midgestation and preterm birth. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a case-control study of 30 women with preterm birth and 90 women with uncomplicated term deliveries. Maternal serum collected at 15-20 weeks was used to measure lipid concentrations and paraoxonase 1 activity using 2 substrates: paraoxon and phenylacetate (arylesterase activity). RESULTS: The groups did not differ with respect to maternal demographics. Paraoxonase 1 activity (paraoxon) was significantly lower in women delivering preterm compared with controls (12.9 +/- 6.1 vs 16.6 +/- 7.7 dA/min; P = .02). Arylesterase activity and serum lipid concentrations were similar between women with preterm birth and controls. CONCLUSION: Midgestation paraoxonase 1 activity is lower in women who later experience spontaneous preterm birth compared with women who have term deliveries. Prospective studies are needed to determine the significance of paraoxonase 1 in the pathogenesis of preterm birth. Copyright 2010 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine whether an association exists between low paraoxonase 1 activity and dyslipidemia at midgestation and preterm birth. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a case-control study of 30 women with preterm birth and 90 women with uncomplicated term deliveries. Maternal serum collected at 15-20 weeks was used to measure lipid concentrations and paraoxonase 1 activity using 2 substrates: paraoxon and phenylacetate (arylesterase activity). RESULTS: The groups did not differ with respect to maternal demographics. Paraoxonase 1 activity (paraoxon) was significantly lower in women delivering preterm compared with controls (12.9 +/- 6.1 vs 16.6 +/- 7.7 dA/min; P = .02). Arylesterase activity and serum lipid concentrations were similar between women with preterm birth and controls. CONCLUSION: Midgestation paraoxonase 1 activity is lower in women who later experience spontaneous preterm birth compared with women who have term deliveries. Prospective studies are needed to determine the significance of paraoxonase 1 in the pathogenesis of preterm birth. Copyright 2010 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.