title: Haemoglobin A/F ratio in neonates at 7 days correlated with birth weight and estimated gestational age.
abstract: Haemoglobin (Hb) A and Hb F has been determined in neonates of Afro-Caribbean and North European origin with gestational ages varying from 32 to 42 weeks. There was no difference in the distribution of Hb A/F ratios between the two groups. Only weak correlations could be established between the Hb A/F ratio and the estimated gestational age or birth weight. This would indicate that there is a considerable interindividual variation in the timing of the switching of haemoglobin synthesis from Hb F to Hb A and erythrocyte production from liver to bone marrow and of oxygen affinity of fetal blood. Thus, intra-uterine adjustments of the oxygen release capacity of haemoglobin would have to rest on biochemical mechanisms during the third trimester.
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D002657:Child Development; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006441:Hemoglobin A / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn
chemical_list: D006441:Hemoglobin A; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin