Atherogenic index of plasma is higher in rubella positive than rubella negative pregnant women in Benin City

Background: Rubella infection is a known cause of congenital rubella syndrome and could be deadly to pregnant women.Aim: To determine the possible effects of rubella infection on lipid profile and atherogenic indices of pregnant women at different trimesters.Methods: Ninety subjects (70 rubella positive pregnant women and 20 rubella negative pregnant women) were recruited for this study at Central Hospital, Benin City. Rubella antibodies (IgG) were assayed quantitatively using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were determined using spectrophotometric method while low density lipoprotein (LDL) was calculated using Friedewald equation. Cardiac risk ratio, atherogenic index of plasma and atherogenic coefficient were calculated from values of HDL, TG, TC and LDL.Result: In the first trimester, data indicated significantly higher TC (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01 or p <0 001), LDL (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01 or p <0 001), AIP, AC, CRR, but lower HDL in rubella negative compared to the rubella positive pregnant women. In the second trimester, significantly higher TC (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01 or p <0 001) Tg (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01 or p <0 001), LDL (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01 or p <0 001), AIP, AC and CRR were observed in the rubella positive pregnant women compared to rubella negative pregnant women. Furthermore, the third trimester revealed significantly higher TC (p < 0.01 or p <0 001), Tg (p < 0.01 or p <0 001), LDL (p < 0.01 or p <0 001), AIP, AC, CRR but lower HDL in the rubella positive pregnant women compared to rubella negative pregnant women. Multivariate regression indicated lack of significant associations between the IgG antibody levels of positive pregnant women and all the lipid variables as well as the athrogenic coefficient and cardiac risk ratio.Conclusion: This study indicated that lipid profile parameters were higher in rubella positive pregnant women compared to rubella negative pregnant women in all trimesters. There was no association between lipid profiles and rubella antibodies in pregnant women.Keywords: Rubella antibody, Pregnancy, lipid profile, atherogenic inde