sFRP4 Biomarker for Early Gestational Diabetes Risk Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for predicting gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are inadequate, as there is a lack of reliable biomarkers for early detection during pregnancy, which hinders timely intervention and management.
Innovation Solution
The use of Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 4 (sFRP4) levels in biological samples, such as blood, to identify pregnant women at risk of developing GDM by comparing expression levels to a reference sample, with increased sFRP4 levels indicating a higher risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If prenatal screening methods are used for GDM diagnosis, then GDM can be detected during pregnancy, but the detection is not early enough and lacks reliable biomarkers for timely intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by measuring sFRP4 expression levels early during pregnancy (first trimester) to predict GDM risk before clinical symptoms appear. This allows intervention to be planned in advance rather than waiting for later diagnosis, thus reducing the loss of time while maintaining detection accuracy through reliable biomarker measurement
2Reliability
If existing biomarkers for T1D and T2D are used, then some prediction capability is available, but these biomarkers are not suitable for GDM prediction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by identifying sFRP4 as a specific biomarker with properties tailored for GDM prediction, rather than using general diabetes biomarkers. The sFRP4 biomarker has local specificity to pregnancy-related metabolic changes, making it reliably applicable only to GDM prediction while maintaining high reliability for this specific condition
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to methods of typing a female subject as being at risk of developing gestational diabetes, comprising determining a level of expression of Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 4 (s FRP4). The invention further relates to methods of treating of a subject being at risk of developing, gestational diabetes, comprising typing the subject according to the methods of the invention, and treating the subject with a dietary meal plan and/or physical activity. The invention additionally relates to kit for a pregnant female subject for susceptibility to gestational diabetes, use of a kit according to the invention for typing a female subject as being at risk of developing gestational diabetes, and to an antibody specific to s FRP4 for use in a method for determining a risk of a female subject of developing gestational diabetes.