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Association Between Retinol-Binding Protein 4 Concentrations and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Risk of Developing Metabolic Syndrome After Pregnancy

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the association between plasma retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and the risk of developing metabolic syndrome after pregnancy. In a case-control study, 192 pregnant women (92 with GDM) were recruited. Gestational diabetes mellitus was diagnosed based on O’Sullivan and Mahan criteria. In all pregnancies, plasma RBP4 concentrations were measured. Retinol-binding protein 4 concentrations in GDM patients were significantly higher than the normal women. Retinol-binding protein 4 level equal to or more than 42 μg/mL could help predict the risk of developing GDM (sensitivity = 75.8%, specificity = 65.3%, P = .001). Concerning metabolic syndrome after pregnancy, in all participants, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome base on World Health Organization (WHO) criteria was 24%. After pregnancy, 32.6% of women with GDM had metabolic syndrome compared with 10.5% of those with healthy pregnancy (P = .001). Age more than 25 years, body mass index (BMI) more than 27 kg/cm2, and RBP4 concentrations were independent risk factors for GDM. Measurement of RBP4 together with the assessment of other risk factors could help identify women at risk of developing GDM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Zhila Maghbooli MSc, Arash Hossein-nezhad MD, PhD, Khadijeh Mirzaei MSc, Farzaneh Karimi BS, Afsaneh Besharati MD, Kobra Omidfar PhD & Bagher Larijani MD

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  1. Zhila Maghbooli MSc
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  2. Arash Hossein-nezhad MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Kobra Omidfar PhD.

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Maghbooli, Z., Hossein-nezhad, A., Mirzaei, K. et al. Association Between Retinol-Binding Protein 4 Concentrations and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Risk of Developing Metabolic Syndrome After Pregnancy. Reprod. Sci. 17, 196–201 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719109351097

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