Evidence for impaired physiological decrease in the uteroplacental vascular resistance in pregnant women with familial hypercholesterolemia

Abnormal hyperlipidemia characterizes pregnancy in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), and is associated with vascular dysfunction. Hence, we compared blood flow in the feto- and uteroplacental circulation in FH and healthy reference women using Doppler velocimetry. The umbilical artery pulsatility index (PI) at gestational weeks 24 and 36, and the concomitant physiological decrease in PI, was similar in FH (n=10) and the reference group (n=143). The decrease in mean PI of both uterine arteries from week 24 to 36 was significant in the reference group, but not among the FH women. Plasma LDL-cholesterol measured between weeks 24 and 36 was not correlated with the decrease in umbilical PI in the FH group, or with the decrease in umbilical or mean uterine PI in the reference group. We conclude that pregnancy in FH might be associated with attenuated physiological decrease in mean PI of uterine arteries, possibly reflecting increased uteroplacental vascular resistance unrelated to plasma LDL-cholesterol levels. © 2009 Informa UK Ltd. (Informa Healthcare, Taylor & Francis AS).