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Am J Perinatol 1998; 15(6): 389-393
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-993963
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1998 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Hemoglobinopathies Affecting Maternal-Fetal Oxygen Gradient During Pregnancy: Molecular, Biochemical and Clinical Studies

Harry Bard1 , Arthur Rosenberg2 , Titus H.J. Huisman3
  • 1Research Center, Neonatal Service, Hospital Sainte-Justine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Montreal, Canada
  • 2Department of Medicine, McGill University, Division of Hematology, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Qc, Canada
  • 3Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia
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Publication Date:
04 March 2008 (online)

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ABSTRACT

The higher oxygen (O2) affinity of fetal blood compared to maternal blood has been considered advantageous for the survival of the fetus. However, there is little information on infants born to mothers who carry a hemoglobin (Hb) variant with altered O2 affinity. This report describes two mothers and their newborn infants, each with a different globin chain variant are identified as Hb Linköping, [β36(C2)Pro)Thr] and Hb Sunshine Seth [a94(G1)Asp)His]. Hb Linköping is a known high O2 affinity variant, while Hb Sunshine Seth was found to have a low affinity for O2. One mother and her newborn, both with a heterozygosity for Hb Linköping, had P50 values of 1.9 and 2.5 kPa, respectively, a reversal of the physiological maternal-infant gradient. The other mother and her newborn, who were heterozygous for Hb Sunshine Seth, had P50 values of 4.7 and 4.4 kPa, respectively, a minimal gradient. The Hb F, plasma erythropoietin, and 2,3-diphosphoglyc-erate (2,3-DPG) levels were normal in both infants. The newborns were clinically normal.

Keywords

Hemoglobinopathies - maternal-fetal O2 affinity gradient - fetal Hb O2 affinity