Plasma apolipoprotein A-I and B concentrations in growth-retarded fetuses:A link between low birth weight and adult atherosclerosis

Apolipoprotein B is elevated in growth-retarded compared with normally grow n fetuses, demonstrating a link between low birth weight and risk of subseq uent atherosclerosis. Increased apolipoprotein B levels and an elevated apo lipoprotein B to A-I ratio are predictors of atherogenesis. Elevated apolip oprotein B levels in young adults have been linked to atherosclerosis in la ter life, whereas impaired fetal growth has been linked to higher than norm al apolipoprotein B levels in adulthood. We conducted this research to test the hypothesis that circulating apolipoprotein A-I and B concentrations di ffer in growth-retarded compared with normal fetuses. Fetal umbilical plasm a samples were obtained at diagnostic cordocenteses in 18 growth-retarded a nd 23 normally grown fetuses. Levels of apolipoprotein A-I and B were measu red by turbidimetric assay. There were no differences in median (range) pla sma apolipoprotein A-I concentrations between growth-retarded and normal fe tuses [0.61(0.30-1.42) vs. 0.60 (0.30-1.63) g/L, respectively; P = 0.94]. I n Contrast, we found significantly higher plasma apolipoprotein B levels in growth-retarded us. normal fetuses [0.62 (0.37-1.84) us. 0.40 (0.16-1.47) g/L, respectively; P < 0.001]. Moreover, the ratio of apolipoprotein B to A -I was significantly higher in growth-retarded than in normal fetuses [1.00 (0.38-2.42) us. 0.53 (0.31-1.80); P = 0.005]. Levels of apolipoprotein B a re elevated in growth-retarded fetuses, suggesting a linkage between low bi rth weight and adult-onset atherosclerosis.