Abstract
Since adult hemoglobin (Hb AO) is glycosylated post-translationally, we hypothesized that Hb in the fetus might reflect maternal glucose control. A chemical method (thiobarbituric acid) was used since Hb F co-elutes with glycohemoglobin (Hb AIc) on cation chromatography. Blood was obtained at delivery from 13 normal and 9 insulin-dependent mother-infant pairs. Glycosylation of Hb (G-Hb) was compared to fructose standards and expressed as nM fructose equiv. (FE)/mg Hb.
Maternal Hb AIc determined by HPLC correlated significantly with maternal nM FE/mg Hb (p <0.01). Infant G-Hb correlated with maternal G-Hb (r= 0.63, p <.005). Both infant groups were decreased compared to mothers (p <.001). Infant bloods chromatographically separated into âFâ pools revealed no differences from whole blood Hb. The decreased glycosylation in fetal blood may relate to decreased fetal red cell survival and/or Hb F structure. Nevertheless, maternal hyperglycemia results in fetal hyperglycemia which glycosylates fetal hemoglobin.
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Zeller, W., Susa, J., Widness, J. et al. 1195 GLYCOSYLATION OF HEMOGLOBINS IN THE MOTHER-INFANT DYAD. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 642 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01221
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01221