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Serum fatty acid binding protein 4 and Doppler of uterine artery ultrasound in the first trimester for the prediction of preeclampsia

Hypertension Research volume 47, pages 1208–1215 (2024)Cite this article

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the predictive value of serum fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) combined with Doppler of the uterine artery in singleton pregnancy at gestational age (GA) 11–13+6 weeks for prediction of preeclampsia. A prospective observational study included singleton pregnant women at GA 11–13+6 weeks and was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, between December 2020 and April 2022. Serum FABP4 levels and Doppler of the uterine artery were performed. Pregnancy outcomes were recorded. The predictive values of these combined tests at the optimal cut-off values were determined to predict preeclampsia. A total of 330 participants with 15 cases of preeclampsia (4.5%) and 6 cases of them had preterm preeclampsia (GA < 37 weeks) (1.8%) were analyzed. Women with preeclampsia had significantly higher serum FABP4 levels than normal pregnant women (12.9 ± 6.5 ng/ml vs 10.1 ± 4.8 ng/ml, p = 0.034) but no difference in the mean pulsatility index (PI) of the uterine artery and the presence of an early diastolic notch. When using serum FABP4 levels greater than 1.0 multiple of the median of GA as a cut-off value to predict preeclampsia, combined with abnormal Doppler PI of the uterine artery, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 73.3%, 47.3%, 6.2%, and 97.4%, respectively. This study demonstrated that serum FABP4 levels combined with Doppler of the uterine artery at GA 11–13+6 weeks were effective in predicting preeclampsia.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the staff and nurses of the Faculty of Medicine, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chulalongkorn University for their helpful suggestions and assistance. The authors thank Natnicha Houngham and Miss Walailak Thongthab for their technical assistance.

Funding

This study was supported by an internal research grant: Ratchadapiseksompotch Fund, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, study Grant number RA64/028 and Grant for International Research Integration: Research Pyramid, Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund, Chulalongkorn University and Placental Related Disease Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University.

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  1. Placental Related Diseases Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Rama IV Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Chaiyawut Paiboonborirak & Vorapong Phupong

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  1. Chaiyawut Paiboonborirak
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  2. Vorapong Phupong
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Correspondence to Vorapong Phupong.

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Paiboonborirak, C., Phupong, V. Serum fatty acid binding protein 4 and Doppler of uterine artery ultrasound in the first trimester for the prediction of preeclampsia. Hypertens Res 47, 1208–1215 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-023-01553-y

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