Cord blood carbohydrate-deficient transferrin levels are markedly higher than maternal

Regular, heavy alcohol intake results in transferrin that is deficient in carbohydrate moieties. Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) has been used as a biologic marker of heavy alcohol exposure in nonpregnant humans. There have been no reports of CDT levels in pregnancy. Our objective was to determine maternal and cord blood levels of CDT. Parturients were recruited at delivery based on graded representative alcohol consumption, from abstainers to heavy drinkers, as determined by screeners skilled at eliciting drug and alcohol histories. Maternal and cord blood serum samples were obtained at delivery. A double antibody radioimmunoassay was used to determine CDT in each sample. There were 83 paired specimens analyzed by paired t tests and stepwise regression analysis. Cord blood CDT units/liter (44.0 +/- 29.5) were significantly (P < 0.0001) higher than maternal (18.4 +/- 7.0). Maternal and cord CDT did not correlate with race, perinatal risk score, gestational age at delivery, birth weight, Apgar scores, or reported alcohol intake. Maternal CDT levels had a significant negative correlation with cigarette smoking. Cord blood CDT levels are significantly higher than maternal. While regular, heavy alcohol consumption by adults results in serum transferrin deficient in carbohydrate moieties, the reason for elevated fetal CDT is unknown.