OBJECTIVE:

To define the reference limits of lipid concentrations in uncomplicated gestations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Observational, retrospective and analytical study carried out in healthy pregnant patients treated in the obstetrics service of the Churruca-Visca Hospital. Inclusion criteria: being pregnant and between 14 and 43 years of age. Exclusion criteria: being in pharmacological treatment that could affect lipid metabolism or have obstetric or neonatal complications.

RESULTS:

163 pregnant women were studied with an average age of 27.2 ± 6.5 years, which was categorized into four groups. In the first trimester non-HDL cholesterol was significantly different among the four categories of BMI (p <0.05). In the second quarter, the same results were found for non-HDL and LDL cholesterol (p <0.05), while triglyceride concentrations were significantly different according to the five age categories (p <0.05). In the third quarter there were no differences in lipid concentrations by age or BMI. Nor were differences obtained by weight gain (less or more than 10 kg).

CONCLUSIONS:

Lipid and lipoprotein concentrations increased during pregnancy. There was no significant difference between women with low and normal weight versus overweight-obesity. It is necessary to gather more information on reference values of lipids and lipoproteins in order to define the state of dyslipidemia in pregnant women.