title: High performance liquid chromatography evaluation of serum carbohydrate-deficient transferrin and more sialylated transferrin glycoforms in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The evaluation of the age-specific distribution of transferrin glycoforms in paediatric patients may help in defining reference intervals which are critical for an improved and earlier diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples from 224 children (age: 2 months-14 years) were analyzed by HPLC (Bio-Rad CDT/HPLC kit) and glycoforms expressed as percentage of the total area of transferrin (Tf).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Asialo- and Monosialo-Tf were not detectable in any patient. Medians (IQR) were respectively 0.92% (0.80-1.04%) for Disialo-Tf; 3.47% (2.69-4.18%) for Trisialo-Tf; 82.54% (81.32-83.53%) for Tetrasialo-Tf; 12.73% (11.91-14.09%) for Pentasialo-Tf. Statistically significant differences in Trisialo-Tf (p < 0.0005), Tetrasialo-Tf (p = 0.001), Pentasialo-Tf (p < 0.0005), but not in Disialo-Tf, were observed between the age groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age-specific Disialo-Tf cut-offs are not necessary. In children 1.3% and 6.4% may be suggested as upper limits of normal range to detect increases of Disialo- and Trisialo-Tf. The presence of Asialo- and Monosialo-Tf should be considered an abnormal finding and prompt further investigations.
authors.affiliation: Reference Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Clinical Pathology, SS. Antonio e Biagio e C. Arrigo Hospital, Alessandria, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raspagni
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arfini
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vidali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001212:Asialoglycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012016:Reference Values; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001212:Asialoglycoproteins; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D014168:Transferrin; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid