title: Fetal and maternal plasma homocysteine levels during the second half of uncomplicated pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure fetal and maternal plasma homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations in uncomplicated pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paired maternal venous and fetal umbilical cord blood (n = 81) samples were evaluated for plasma Hcy and vitamin B12levels, in addition to eight neonatal umbilical cord blood samples obtained immediately following delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both fetal and maternal Hcy concentrations were positively correlated with advancing gestational age (ρ = 0.44, p < 0.0001; and ρ = 0.27, p < 0.05, respectively). Fetal plasma Hcy concentrations [2.2 µmol/l (IQR: 2.0-3.2)] were significantly lower than both neonatal umbilical vein [5.0 µmol/l (IQR: 4.4-6.5); p < 0.001] and maternal plasma Hcy levels [4.4 μmo/l (IQR: 3.4-5.4); p < 0.001]. In addition, Hcy values at term were higher in the umbilical vein compared with the umbilical artery [5.0 μmol/l (IQR: 3.4-5.4) versus 4.2 μmol/l (IQR: 3.7-5.5), respectively; p = 0.016]. Significant correlation was noted and between fetal and maternal Hcy levels (ρ = 0.50, p < 0.0001), while fetal Hcy was negatively correlated with maternal B12concentrations (ρ = -0.32, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fetal Hcy levels were significantly lower than maternal and neonatal levels and correlated with gestational age across the second half of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia and.
authors.forename: Nebojsa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Radunovic
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , The Ohio State University College of Medicine , Columbus , OH , USA.
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lockwood
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia and.
authors.forename: Olivera
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stanojlovic
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia and.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steric
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia and.
authors.forename: Olivera
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kontic-Vucinic
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia and.
authors.forename: Nenad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sulovic
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia and.
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hrncic
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , The Ohio State University College of Medicine , Columbus , OH , USA.
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Ackerman Iv
keywords: Fetal blood; homocysteine; maternal blood; vitamin B