Maternal and Cord Serum Lipid Profiles of Preterm Neonates with Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Introduction: Respirtory Distress Syndrome (RDS) occurs almost exclusively in preterm infants. Preterm with RDS has low amount of surfactant which contains low amount of desaturated phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, and less of surfactant proteins than surfactant from mature lung.The Aim of this Study: Was to evaluate the level of lipid profiles in maternal and cord blood of preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome and to assess the effect of maternal nutritional status and lipid profile on cord blood lipid profile of preterm infants.Methods and Results: The study was conducted on 30 neonates with RDS with gestational age 27-36 week, birth weight 750-2600gm, and 20 neonates without RDS, their gestational age range from 31-36 weeks and birth weights range 1200-2700gm were enrolled as a control group. All newborn and their mothers were subjected to detailed medical history, thorough clinical examination and laboratory, radiological, and imaging investigations. Pre-gravid weight, pregravid BMI, weight gain during pregnancy, were significantly lower in mothers of RDS patients. Birth weight, length, head circumference, Apgar score at 5 minutes were significantly lower in RDS group compared to control group. Total serum cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, were significantly lower in RDS neonates, while serum triglycerides, VLDL-C, showed no significant difference when compared to control group. For the mothers of affected neonates serum total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides, VLDL-C, were significantly lower when compared with mothers of non affected neonates. There was a positive correlation between maternal lipid profile and their infant’s lipid profile in infants with RDS. Bi parietal diameter, abdominal circumference, femoral length, and ultrasono graphic weight one week before delivery were significantly lower in RDS neonates compared to control group.Conclusion: Low plasma lipid during gestation appears to have negative effects on the fetal lung development. Mean total HDL-C, LDL-C were significantly lower in infants with RDS and their mothers than in control group.