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Haemoglobin A2 in newborn infants of different maturity

P Neumeyer1, K Betke

  • 1Universitätskinderklinik, Dr. v. Haunerschen Kinderspital, München, Federal Republic of Germany.

European Journal of Pediatrics
|November 1, 1987
PubMed

Insights

Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels decrease with infant maturity, while adult hemoglobin (HbA) and HbA2 increase. Delta-globin chain synthesis lags behind beta-globin during development.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Neonatal Physiology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Hemoglobin composition changes significantly after birth.
  • Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is the primary hemoglobin during gestation.
  • Adult hemoglobin (HbA) and HbA2 gradually replace HbF postnatally.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the developmental changes in hemoglobin types in newborns.
  • To quantify levels of HbF, HbA2, and calculate HbA in cord blood.
  • To compare neonatal hemoglobin profiles with adult controls.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of cord blood from 70 infants (28-41 weeks gestation).
  • Determination of HbF and HbA2 percentages.
  • Calculation of HbA levels based on HbF and HbA2 measurements.

Main Results:

  • HbF levels decreased with increasing gestational maturity.
  • HbA and HbA2 levels increased with maturity.
  • The percentage of non-fetal hemoglobin (HbA + HbA2) rose from 0.57% to 0.83% with maturity, remaining lower than adult levels (1.83%).

Conclusions:

  • Neonatal hemoglobin development shows a lag in delta-globin chain synthesis compared to beta-globin.
  • This finding is notable given the proximity of the delta- and beta-globin genes.
  • The study highlights distinct developmental trajectories of globin chain production.

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