Objective:To study serum level of retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4)and related factors in human subjects with impaired glucose regulation (IGR)and incipient type 2 diabetes(T2DM). Methods:The correlation between each indicator and serum RBP4 were analyzed by means of determination of the fasting serum RBP4 concentration of 27 patients with incipient type 2 diabetes(T2DM)and 27 subjects with impaired glucose regulation (IGR)by use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

the results of which were compared with that of 26 individuals with normal glucose tolerance(NGT group). The blood glucose

blood lipid

blood pressure

height

body weight

and the level of insulin were determined at the same time. Results:The levels of serum RBP4 in incipient T2DM and IGR groups were significantly higher than that in normal group

but there was no difference in the level of RBP4 between these two groups. Multiple correlation and regression analysis showed that fasting insulin (FINS)

insulin resistance (IR)

and systolic blood pressure (SBP) was positively correlated with RBP4

but there was no indicator showing the main factors affecting serum RBP4 level. Conclusion:The over-expression of RBP4 protein in peripheral blood in incipient T2DM and IGR groups as well as some relation with T2DM and its related clinical parameters suggest that RBP4 possibly plays a role in the occurrence and development of T2DM