Fetal High-Risk APOL1 Genotype Increases Risk for Small for Gestational Age in Term Infants Affected by Preeclampsia

Abstract

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy cause fetal growth restriction and increased maternal morbidity and mortality, especially in women of African ancestry. Recently, preeclampsia risk was associated with polymorphisms in the apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene in women of African ancestry.

Objectives: We assessed APOL1 genotype effects on pregnancies with and without preeclampsia.

Method: We conducted an unmatched case-control study of 1,358 mother-infant pairs from two independent cohorts of black women.

Results: Term preeclampsia cases with high-risk APOL1 genotypes were more likely to be small for gestational age compared to APOL1 low-risk term cases (odds ratio [OR] 2.8) and APOL1 high-risk controls (OR 5.5). Among preterm pregnancies, fetal APOL1 genotype was associated with preeclampsia.

Conclusions: Fetal APOL1 genotype was associated with preeclampsia in preterm infants and with altered fetal growth in term infants. This may indicate APOL1 genotype impacts a spectrum of pregnancy complications mediated by a common pathophysiological event of placental insufficiency.

Keywords: African American; Fetal growth; Genetics; Preeclampsia; Small for gestational age.