Alterations in serum adipocyte fatty acid binding protein and retinol binding protein-4 in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia

BackgroundPreeclampsia, a pregnancy-specific complication occurring in the second half of human pregnancy and one of the leading causes for perinatal mortality and morbidity, is characterized by the onset of hypertension and proteinuria. We measured circulating adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (AFABP) and retinol binding protein-4 (RBP-4) in patients with preeclampsia.MethodsTwenty-seven healthy non-pregnant women, 27 healthy pregnant women at third trimester and 26 women with preeclampsia were recruited and blood samples were taken. Concentrations of serum AFABP and RBP-4 were measured with ELISA.ResultsThere were significant differences in serum AFABP (median: 0.99, 0.93 and 1.81 ng/ml, respectively, P < 0.001) and RBP-4 (mean: 3.16, 2.65 and 4.27 ng/ml, respectively, P = 0.022) among non-pregnancy, normal pregnancy and preeclampsia. Serum AFABP was significantly higher in preeclampsia than non-pregnancy (P < 0.001) and normal pregnancy (P = 0.001). Serum RBP-4 was significantly higher in preeclampsia than normal pregnancy (P = 0.007) but not non-pregnancy (P = 0.061). There were no significant differences in serum RBP-4 and AFABP between non-pregnancy and normal pregnancy. Serum RBP-4 was significantly higher in severe than mild preeclampsia (mean: 5.15 vs 2.84 ng/ml, P = 0.046). There was no significant difference in serum AFABP between mild and severe preeclampsia.ConclusionIncreased circulating AFABP and RBP-4 concentrations were demonstrated, suggesting it be an important pathophysiology of preeclampsia.