Glycosylation of hemoglobin in the cord blood

ABSTRACT

Glycosylated haemoglobin levels in maternal and cord blood were measured colorimetrically and by isoelectric focusing method in non-diabetic and diabetic, and in blood of non-pregnant non-diabetic women. It has been shown that in non-diabetic and diabetic women, the level of cord blood glycosylated haemoglobin was approximately 30% less than the corresponding maternal blood levels, and correlation could only be detected between maternal and cord blood of diabetic women. The mean value for the glycosylated haemoglobin in level in the non-diabetic pregnant women was insignificantly higher than that of non pregnant non-diabetic women. Very low values were also recorded in the blood of non- diabetic pregnant women. Glycosylated haemoglobin in the cord blood of diabetic women was significantly higher than that in the cord blood of non-diabetic women. The minor haemoglobin fractions Ala + 1 b were very low in the cord blood of both groups. The implications of these findings and the significance of the glycosylated minor haemoglobin fractions as a screening aid for gestational diabetes are discussed