RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Preeclampsia is associated with an abnormal lipid profile and high apolipoprotein E (Apo E) levels. Apo E may favor lipid uptake by macrophages and is thought to increase triglycerides clearance. However, high Apo E levels may interfere with lipolysis by interacting with the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activator, apolipoprotein C2 (Apo C2). LPL activity may also be impaired by high levels of the LPL inhibitor apolipoprotein C3 (Apo C3). Therefore, lipid profile depends on the balance between the opposing effects of Apo C2 and Apo C3 and on interference due to Apo E. We investigated the involvement of these three lipoproteins in lipid disorders associated with preeclampsia. METHODS: Blood samples were taken from 25 normotensive and 24 preeclamptic pregnant women after a 12-hr fasting period. These samples were analyzed for standard lipid profile and Apo E, C2, C3 concentrations. RESULTS: Concentrations of triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and LDL cholesterol did not differ significantly between preeclamptic women and pregnant controls. Apo C2 concentration and Apo E/Apo C2 ratio did not differ between the two groups of women but Apo C3 and Apo E concentrations were higher in preeclamptic than in pregnant controls. The ratio of triglycerides to Apo E was similar in the two groups of women. In both groups, triglycerides levels were positively correlated with Apo E (p=0.0429), Apo C2 (p=0.0045) and Apo C3 (p=0.0004) concentrations, but not with Apo E/Apo C2 ratio (p=0.760). CONCLUSIONS: In preeclamptic women, the increase in Apo E concentration may not increase triglycerides clearance because LPL activity seems to be inhibited by high Apo C3 concentration.