HAPTOGLOBIN DEVELOPMENT IN NEWBORN-INFANTS FROM DIABETIC MOTHERS

Haptoglobin(Hp) development during the neonatal period has been studie d in 325 newborn infants from normal pregnancies and in 242 infants fr om diabetic mothers. In infants from diabetic mothers Hp development i s delayed as compared to infants from normal pregnancies. This delay i s associated with a change in the pattern of relationship between Hp d evelopment and the polymorphism of acid phosphatase (ACP1) (an enzyme which shows phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) activity). In infants from normal pregnancies who show ACP1 phenotypes with the highest act ivity, the appearance of Hp is accelerated as compared to other infant s. In contrast, infants from diabetic pregnancies who have ACP1 phenot ypes with the highest activity, show delayed Hp development.