Evidence of hypoxaemia and distribution of minor haemoglobin components in the cord blood of neonates born to diabetic mothers

Abstract

The oxygenation status of normal and diabetic (White's classification A and B) mothers and their neonates was investigated. The diabetic patients had significantly increased maternal total haemoglobin and P50 values and the percentage of fetal haemoglobin was increased in cord blood taken at delivery in this group. There was a significant positive correlation between maternal P50 values and the percentage of fetal haemoglobin in cord blood. The cord blood 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, inorganic phosphate and P50 values were also increased in neonates born to diabetic mothers and these infants had a significantly increased birth weight ratio. The results are consistent with the presence of fetal hypoxaemia in the late third trimester of diabetic pregnancy in which obvious maternal vascular disease has been excluded.