Background: Transthyretin (TTR) (Prealbumin) is a plasma protein that is considered a biochemical indicator of protein deficiency and nutritional status. Serum TTR levels are low during fetal life but increase with gestational age (GA) and birth-weight (BW).
Objectives: Study UC and maternal (Mo) TTR levels and their relationship to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
Methods: Prenatal and delivery data were collected on 48 preterm infants (GA
Results: Mean GA was 32.8±3.0 weeks and BW was 1813±559g. Mean UC-TTR was 8.4±0.4mg/dL and Mo-TTR was 20.3±1.2mg/dL. Although there were no significant differences in GA or BW between the males and females UC-TTR levels were higher in females (9.4±2.7 vs. 7.6±1.8mg/dL, p = 0.018). UC-TTR levels were slightly higher in preterm infants with history of IUGR (9.2±2.4 vs. 8.3±2.4mg/dL) but this was not significant (p=0.33). This was also true for Mo-TTR levels (21.3±6.6 in IUGR vs. 20.0±7.3mg/dL, p=0.66). There were no significant correlations between UC-TTR and Mo-TTR (Pearson r=0.31, p=0.08); and between UC-TTR or Mo-TTR and BW or GA. Both TTR values were not affected by gestational morbidities, prenatal steroids, rupture of membranes or mode of delivery. However, Mo (but not UC) TTR levels were significantly lower in twin pregnancies (16.8±4.9 vs. 22.5±7.5mg/dL, p=0.009).
Conclusions: We could not find significant correlations between UC-TTR or Mo-TTR measurements and the nutritional status of preterm infants at birth. TTR levels were not sensitive enough to identify nutritional deficiencies in IUGR pregnancies.
