Abstract
Summary: The magnitude of the glycosylated hemoglobin (G Hb) in 17 control and in 12 insulin-dependent diabetic mothers and their infants was measured using a thiobarbituric acid (TBA) colorimetric method. The maternal G Hb values were 12.3 ± 3.1 (mean ± S.D.) nmoles fructose equivalents per mg of Hb (nM FE/mg Hb) for the control and 14.8 ± 3.1 for the insulin-dependent groups (P < 0.05). In contrast, the G Hb values of infants of control and insulin-dependent diabetic mothers were not significantly different. The G Hb values for both groups of infants were approximately 60% of their mothers' values: 7.6 ± 2.5 for the control infants and 8.3 ± 1.5 for the infants of insulin-dependent diabetics (IDMs) (P < 0.001 compared to the mothers). A significant correlation was found between maternal and infant G Hb (n = 29, r = 0.64, P < 0.001).
Additional umbilical blood hemoglobin solutions and corresponding chromatographically purified fetal hemoglobin fractions, including Hb FI acetylated, Hb FO nonacetylated, and glycosylated, from three infant groups: controls, gestational diabetics and insulin-dependent mothers, were analyzed for total glycosylation by the TBA method. There were no significant differences in the degree of glycosylation between cord blood hemoglobin solutions and the chromatographically separated fetal hemoglobins. In view of these data it is unlikely that analysis of umbilical blood glycosylation by currently available techniques would distinguish normal infants from infants of controlled diabetic mothers or those with previously undiagnosed gestational diabetes.
High performance liquid chromatography was also used on maternal hemoglobin solutions to determine the total fast fractions (Hb AI): Hb and Hb . The maternal AI values were 7.49 ± 0.35% of total Hb for the controls and 10.1 ± 1.38% for the diabetics (P < 0.001). Hb AI, as measured by high performance liquid chromatography, correlated linearly with total glycosylation by the TBA method in control (P < 0.001) and diabetic (P < 0.05) mothers. Maternal glycohemoglobin determinations are preferable to cord blood determinations in assessing glucose control before delivery.
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Zeller, W., Susa, J., Widness, J. et al. Glycosylation of Hemoglobin in Normal and Diabetic Mothers and their Fetuses. Pediatr Res 17, 200–203 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198303000-00006
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198303000-00006