Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 is associated with postpartum hypertension in women with history of preeclampsia

Both hypertension and preeclampsia (PE) are considered as inflammatory diseases. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is an inflammatory marker associated with lipid metabolism. We aimed to study the correlation and predictive value of Lp-PLA2 in postpartum hypertension after PE. A group of 160 PE patients (PE group) and a separate group of 160 normal pregnant women (control group) were recruited from January 2010 to October 2011. The average age in the PE group was 28.4 ± 4.5 years and the average gestational age was 34.7 ± 1.1 weeks. The average age in the control group was 27.8 ± 4.5 years and the average gestational age was 35.5 ± 1.2 weeks. General information (including age, gestational age, parity, history of metabolic disease, family history of high blood pressure, height, body weight before childbirth, and blood pressure) and blood samples were collected for measuring Lp-PLA2 and lipid parameters. From February to April in 2013, 153 cases in the PE group and 132 in the control group were re-called. We assessed their postpartum health, pregnancy, height, weight, and blood pressure. Serum mass of Lp-PLA2 in the PE group (210.67 ± 17.98 ng/mL) was significantly higher compared with that in the control group (174.72 ± 30.26 ng/mL) ( P