Cord Blood Hypertriglyceridaemia as an Index of Fetal Stress: Use of a Simple Screening Test and Results of Further Biochemical Analysis

In this preliminary study, 120 cord blood samples were subjected to a simple on-the-ward triglyceride screening procedure and 15 were designated as being high and another 15 randomly selected as controls. All the samples were then subjected to detailed biochemical analysis for fatty acid profiles and/or concentrations of free fatty acids, triglycerides (TG), phospholipids, cholesterol esters and glycerol. Eleven of the samples designated 'high' were associated with one or more of the following clinical conditions: family history of ischaemic heart disease, maternal starvation, fetal distress, light-for-dates babies and excessive weight gain during pregnancy. There was an association between high TG levels and high glycerol levels. The fatty acid pattern of the TG was altered when at abnormally high concentration, in particular oleic acid was increased relative to the others, and this was associated with an increase in cholesterol ester oleic acid. The possible mechanisms resulting in cord hypertriglyceridaemia are discussed.