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Obesity and preeclampsia: Role of fibrinogen and C‑reactive protein
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed at ascertaining the relationship between obesity and preeclampsia and the role of fibrinogen and C‑reactive protein (CRP).
Study design: This was a case‑control study involving 200 pregnant women, 100 of whom were healthy pregnant women, and 100 preeclamptic women, matched for age, parity, and gestational age. Information about their sociodemographic characteristics was obtained and body mass index (BMI) calculated using their height and weight at recruitment. Their plasma fibrinogen and CRP levels were assayed using enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. All data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using Epi Info.
Results: The mean (±SD) age of subjects was 31.1 ± 4.51 years. The preeclamptic subjects were found to have higher BMI (30.04 ± 6.06 kg/m2) compared to the normotensive pregnant women (28.08 ± 2.97 kg/m2). However, this was not statistically significant. Using mean arterial blood pressure as an indicator of disease severity, with a cut‑off of 125 mmHg, it was found that severe preeclamptics had higher BMI (30.18 ± 6.49 kg/m2) compared to women with mild form of the disease (29.83 ± 5.48 kg/m2) but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.2131). There was also statistically significant association between BMI and high‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein (hsCRP) (P = 0.0000), and between BMI and plasma fibrinogen levels (P = 0.0000).
Conclusion: It can thus be inferred from this study that obesity elicits inflammatory response which might predispose to the development of preeclampsia. Lifestyle modifications such as dietary control, exercise, and pre‑pregnancy weight reduction may help in reducing the incidence of preeclampsia.
Key words: C‑reactive protein; obesity; pre‑eclampsia; plasma fibrinogen; severity of the disease.
