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Abstract

Objective: Changes are observed in the levels of very low density by operation, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and highdensity lipoprotein-cholesterol during pregnancy have been described. In the present study changes in lipids and lipoproteins havebeen investigated throughout the pregnancy and in the puerperium. Relationship between plasma lipids and other pregnancyrelated factors was studied. Data Source: Plasma levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoproteins were determined in 56pregnant women and the same number of non-pregnant women served as control. Study Design: Non interventional prospective:Setting: Department of Physiology, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College Bahawalpur. Period: August 1991 to August 2002. Material& Method: Fifty six (56) volunteer subjects in the first trimester of pregnancy were chosen from those attending routine antenatalout patient department of various hospitals of Bahawalpur. Results: The plasma concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides andlipoproteins increased significantly during the second trimester and reached maximum in the third trimester. Furthermore, totalcholesterol and total triglycerides, contents in different fractions lipoproteins, decreased significantly higher until 4 weeks of postpartum.The magnitude of the cholesterol increment appeared in part to be related to that of serum triglycerides but wasindependent of age, weight gain, numbers of previous pregnancies and sex of the foetus. Conclusion: It is conceivable, therefore,that hyperlipidemia does occur during pregnancy in women.