Quantitative analysis of serum α 1-acid glycoprotein levels in normal and diabetic pregnancy

Abstract

In an attempt to clarify the mechanism of lipid metabolism during pregnancy, α 1-acid glycoprotein (α 1-AG) was analyzed in normal and diabetic pregnant women. Seventy-two determinations of serum α 1-AG levels were performed in 18 diabetic pregnant women and 82 determinations in 82 normal pregnant women in all three trimesters and within 14 days postpartum. Serum α 1-AG levels in both normal and diabetic pregnant women decreased throughout pregnancy and rapidly increased postpartum. In all gestational stages, the serum α 1-AG levels were lower in diabetic women than in normal women, but the differences were not significant. No significant correlation was obtained between serum α 1-AG and hemoglobin A 1 (HbA 1) in diabetic patients. On the contrary, the serum triglyceride levels increased during pregnancy and decreased postpartum in both groups of subjects. These findings suggest that serum α 1-AG plays an important role in the activation of lipoprotein lipase during pregnancy.