Maternal and Cord Blood Fructosamine in Normally Pregnant Women During Delivery

Abstract

To compare between serum fructosamine values in maternal and cord blood and the relationship with birth weight, serum albumin or total protein concentration as well as the influence of albumin or total protein on fructosamine values and the need for correcting their values accordingly using different equations. Plasma glucose (PG) and serum fructosamine (FAm), albumin and total protein were measured in maternal and cord blood from 20 full-term pregnant women delivered by normal vaginal delivery women. Calculation of corrected fructosamine (FAc) was made according to serum albumin or total protein values using different equations. The pregnant women were attending Al-Batool Maternity Hospital in Mosul during April 2001. When comparing the maternal and cord blood parameters, there was no significant difference in PG and albumin concentrations, while there was a slight significant difference between them in FAm (p<0.01), and a highly significant difference in total protein (p<0.001). There was no significant correlation between the weight of the baby and FAm of the maternal blood (r=0.08) or cord blood (r=0.18). There was also no significant correlation between FAm and albumin in the cord blood (r=0.31) or maternal blood (r=0.07). After correction, comparison between FAm and FAc showed a slight difference between FAc and FAm in the maternal blood (P< 0.05 based on albumin and p<0.001 based on total protein). In the cord blood, FAm showed also a highly significant difference from FA (P< 0.001). There was no significant difference between FAc in the cord blood and in the maternal blood using all equations. Cord blood fructosamine was lower than maternal blood fructosamine with no significant correlation was found between weight of baby and maternal fructosamine or cord blood fructosamine. Correction of measured fructosamine accordingly improves its usefulness as an index of glycated protein for assessing glycaemic state.