Glycated hemoglobin of fractionated erythrocytes, glycated albumin, and plasma fructosamine during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate glucose metabolism during pregnancy, we measured plasma fructosamine, glycated albumin, and the stable glycated hemoglobin of the light and dense erythrocytes.


METHODS
The abnormal glucose tolerance group comprised patients with gestational diabetes and those with one abnormal value on a 75 gm oral glucose tolerance test. Erythrocyte fractionation was performed by capillary centrifugation.


RESULTS
In normal pregnancy glycated hemoglobin of the light erythrocytes was reduced in the second and third trimesters (3.42% +/- 0.62% [mean +/- SD] [n = 306] in the first trimester, 2.15% +/- 0.48% [n = 353] in the second, and 2.06% +/- 0.58% [n = 300] in the third), and dense erythrocytes were higher in the third trimester (first 4.59% +/- 0.46%, second 4.70% +/- 0.49%, third 5.29% +/- 0.73%). Glycated albumin and fructosamine followed a pattern similar to the light erythrocytes. The group with abnormal glucose tolerance had significantly higher levels of glycated hemoglobin of the light erythrocytes in the first and third trimesters and glycated hemoglobin of the dense erythrocytes and glycated albumin in all trimesters.


CONCLUSIONS
The biphasic change in nonfractionated glycated hemoglobin is the sum of the lower glycated hemoglobin of the light erythrocytes and the higher glycated hemoglobin of the dense erythrocytes in late pregnancy. The stable glycated hemoglobin of fractionated erythrocytes and the glycated albumin accurately reflect maternal glucose metabolism during pregnancy.
Kurishita
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Luke's International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Nakashima
K
K
Kozu
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D019270:Fructosamine; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D006595:Hexosamines / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000093423:Glycated Serum Albumin
D019270:Fructosamine; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D006595:Hexosamines; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000093423:Glycated Serum Albumin