Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Prospective Evaluation of Fetal Hemoglobin Expression in Maternal Erythrocytes: an Analysis of a Cohort of 345 Parturients

Laurence Blain
* ORCID logo ,
Christian Watier
,
Xiaoduan Weng
,
Andre Masse
,
Marie-Josée Bédard
,
Nazila Bettache
,
Florence Weber
,
Michele Mahone
,
Stéphanie Forte
ORCID logo ,
Vincent-Philippe Lavallée
ORCID logo ,
Pierre-Olivier Gaudreau
,
Michael J. Newmarch
,
Denis Soulières
* ORCID logo
Version 1 : Received: 18 May 2023 / Approved: 19 May 2023 / Online: 19 May 2023 (05:17:09 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Blain, L.; Watier, C.; Weng, X.; Masse, A.; Bédard, M.-J.; Bettache, N.; Weber, F.; Mahone, M.; Forté, S.; Lavallée, V.-P.; Gaudreau, P.-O.; Newmarch, M.J.; Soulières, D. Prospective Evaluation of Fetal Hemoglobin Expression in Maternal Erythrocytes: An Analysis of a Cohort of 345 Parturients. Diagnostics 2023, 13, 1873. Blain, L.; Watier, C.; Weng, X.; Masse, A.; Bédard, M.-J.; Bettache, N.; Weber, F.; Mahone, M.; Forté, S.; Lavallée, V.-P.; Gaudreau, P.-O.; Newmarch, M.J.; Soulières, D. Prospective Evaluation of Fetal Hemoglobin Expression in Maternal Erythrocytes: An Analysis of a Cohort of 345 Parturients. Diagnostics 2023, 13, 1873.

Abstract

It is believed that fetal hemoglobin (HbF) expression in adults is largely genetically regulated. The increased expression of HbF in pregnancy has been reported in a small number of articles. Different mechanisms have been proposed, but the description of HbF expression during pregnancy remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to document HbF expression during peri and postpartum periods, confirm its maternal origin, and assess clinical and biochemical parameters potentially associated with HbF modulation. In this observational prospective study, 345 pregnant women were followed. At baseline, 169 had HbF expression (≥1% of total hemoglobin) and 176 did not have HbF expression. Women were followed at the obstetric clinic during their pregnancy. Clinical and biochemical parameters were measured at each visit. Analyses were made to determine which parameters had a significant correlation to HbF expression. Results show that HbF expression of ≥ 1% during peri and postpartum periods in pregnant women without influencing comorbidities is at its highest peak during the first trimester. In all women, it was proven that HbF was of maternal origin. A significant positive correlation between HbF expression, β-HCG, and HbA1C was present. A significant negative association between HbF expression and total hemoglobin was found. HbF expression induction during pregnancy is probably associated with increase in β-HCG and HbA1C, and decrease of total hemoglobin, which could temporarily reactivate the fetal erythropoietic system.

Keywords

Fetal hemoglobin; pregnancy; glycosylated hemoglobin; HbA1C; β-HCG

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Hematology

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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