King's College London

OBJECTIVE:
To examine maternal serum levels of retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4) at 11-13 weeks' gestation in normal and pathological pregnancies.

METHODS:
Serum RBP4 at 11-13 weeks was measured in 480 singleton pregnancies, including 240 with normal outcome, 60 that subsequently developed preeclampsia (PE), 60 that developed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), 60 that delivered large for gestational age (LGA) neonates and 60 that delivered small (SGA) neonates. The values in each adverse pregnancy outcome group were compared to those of normal pregnancies.

RESULTS:
Serum concentration of RBP4 was not significantly different in women who subsequently developed PE (p=0.925), or GDM (p=0.074), or had pregnancies that led to delivery to SGA (p=0.085), LGA (p=0.332) neonates.

CONCLUSION:
Maternal serum RBP4 in the first trimester is not significantly altered in pathological pregnancies.