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Updated: May 14, 2026
Real-time Analyses of Retinol Transport by the Membrane Receptor of Plasma Retinol Binding Protein
Published on: January 28, 2013
Retinol binding protein as early marker of fetal growth restriction in first trimester maternal serum
Arrigo Fruscalzo1, Anna Biasioli, Ambrogio P Londero
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Franziskus-Hospital, Muenster, Germany. fruscal@libero.it
Insights
Serum retinol binding protein (RBP4) may serve as an early indicator for fetal growth restriction (FGR) in the first trimester. However, it does not appear to be a reliable marker for preeclampsia (PE) during early pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Endocrinology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Serum retinol binding protein (RBP4) is a carrier protein for retinol, also recognized as an adipokine linked to insulin resistance.
- RBP4's role in pregnancy complications is an area of ongoing research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate RBP4, transthyretin (TTR), and thyroxin (T4) as potential early biomarkers for fetal growth restriction (FGR) and preeclampsia (PE).
- To assess these markers in maternal serum during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case-control study was conducted.
- Maternal serum RBP4, TTR, and T4 levels were measured between the 12th and 14th week of gestation.
- Participants included women who later developed FGR (15), PE (14), or had a normal pregnancy (11).
Main Results:
- Lower RBP4 concentrations were observed in women who later developed FGR compared to the control group (p < 0.05).
- RBP4 levels were also lower in the FGR group compared to the PE group, though not statistically significant (p = 0.075).
- No significant differences in TTR or T4 concentrations were found among the groups.
Conclusions:
- RBP4 shows potential as an early predictive marker for fetal growth restriction (FGR) in the first trimester.
- RBP4 does not appear to be a reliable early marker for preeclampsia (PE).
Background:
Serum retinol binding protein (RBP4) is the binding protein for retinol, being delivered into the circulation through the carrier protein transthyretin (TTR) together with thyroxin (T4). RBP4 has also been recently indicated as a new adipokine implicated in insulin resistance and metabolism regulation.
Objective:
To investigate the role of RBP4 as early markers of fetal growth restriction (FGR) and preeclampsia (PE) in maternal serum during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Materials And Methods:
Retrospective case control study in patients between the 12th and the 14th week of gestation. RBP4, TTR and T4 concentration was assessed in maternal serum of three groups of women: 15 and 14 patients later developing respectively FGR and PE were compared with 11 patients having a normal pregnancy.
Results:
All women were Caucasian and the mean maternal age was 33.62 years (±5.50). RBP4 resulted lower in the FGR than in the control group (11.00 versus 16.00 µg/ml, p < 0.05) and than in the PE group (15.00 µg/ml, p = 0.075), both in bivariate and multivariate analysis. No difference was observed in TTR and T4 concentration.
Conclusions:
RBP4 seems to play a role as early marker of FGR but not PE in first trimester maternal serum.
