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Maternal plasma HbF levels in pregnancy.
Oncodevelopmental Biology and Medicine : the Journal of the International Society for Oncodevelopmental Biology and Medicine
|January 1, 1983
Summary
Maternal serum hemoglobin F (HbF) levels were studied in normal pregnancies. Elevated HbF after 15 weeks gestation may indicate transplacental hemorrhage, a potential complication.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Hematology
Background:
- Hemoglobin F (HbF) is the primary oxygen-carrying protein in fetal red blood cells.
- Maternal serum HbF levels are typically low in non-pregnant adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serial changes in maternal serum hemoglobin F (HbF) levels during normal pregnancy.
- To determine if maternal HbF levels can serve as an indicator of transplacental hemorrhage.
Main Methods:
- Radioimmunoassay was used to measure serial maternal serum HbF fractions in 23 normal pregnancies.
- HbF levels were analyzed across trimesters and gestational weeks.
Main Results:
- Maternal HbF remained within the normal adult range during the first trimester.
- After 15 weeks gestation, some pregnancies showed elevated HbF, while approximately 30% remained in the normal adult range.
- Irregular increases in maternal HbF were observed in serial studies.
Conclusions:
- Maternal serum HbF levels can increase during pregnancy after 15 weeks gestation.
- Elevated maternal HbF may be a potential indicator of transplacental hemorrhage.
- Further research is warranted to validate HbF as a marker for transplacental hemorrhage.