Effect of mode of delivery on maternal and umbilical cord serum lipid profile

Limited data are available with regard to the relation between maternal and fetal serum lipid and lipoprotein levels and the mode of delivery. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of mode of delivery on the levels of serum lipid and lipoprotein of mothers and their umbilical cords. This study is consisted of fourty-nine pregnant women delivered by elective caesarean [CS] and seventy-five age-and gestational age-matched pregnant women who delivered by normal vaginal delivery[NVD].Serum lipid profile parameters including; total cholesterol [Tch], triglyceride [TG], high density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C] and low density lipoprotem-cholesterol [LDL-C] were measured in the serum of these two groups of pregnant women as well as in the serum of their umbilical cords. The mean [ +/- SEM] values of serum Tch, TG, and LDL-C were significantly higher in pregnant women who delivered by NVD when compared with those of pregnant women delivered by CS[all P< 0.001].With regard to serum HDL-C mean value there was no significant difference between these two groups. Similarily,the mean [ +/- SEM] values of serum Tch, TG, LDL-C were significantly increased in umbilical cord of NVD mothers in comparison with values obtained in umbilical cord of CS mothers[all P< 0.001]. There was also a significant positive relationship between mothers and umbilical cord serum Teh levels in NVD group[r=0.339, P< 0.001]. This study revealed that the mode of delivery, in particular, NVD changes significantly the concentrations of lipid parameters mainly Tch, TG, and LDL-C. Such changes require an important attention postpartumly for such mothers with respect to biochemical investigation, particularly lipid parameters