Retinol-binding protein 4 in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
It is still unknown if serum retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) relates to metabolic control and the occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We studied RBP4 levels in patients with insulin-treated GDM and healthy pregnant women twice during pregnancy.


METHODS
Sixty-three women with GDM and 38 healthy pregnant women were included. Serum RBP4 levels were measured at 24-28 weeks of gestation and 8 weeks later. Patients with GDM were treated with insulin.


RESULTS
Serum RBP4 levels increased significantly between the two measurements in patients with GDM (p = 0.03). In patients with GDM, RBP4 concentrations at 33 weeks of gestation correlated positively with mean blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c values, and cord blood insulin values right after delivery. Regression analyses showed that the diagnosis of GDM (p = 0.04) and hemoglobin A1c levels (p < 0.001) were related to RBP4 levels at 33 weeks of gestation.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum RBP4 levels increase during pregnancy in patients with insulin-treated GDM.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. katharina.klein@meduniwien.ac.at
Katharina
K
Klein
Dagmar
D
Bancher-Todesca
Heinz
H
Leipold
Martin
M
Knöfler
Peter
P
Haslinger
Ammon
A
Handisurya
Alexandra
A
Kautzky-Willer
Christof
C
Worda
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood; D012044:Regression Analysis; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma / Q000378:metabolism*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; C101326:RBP4 protein, human