DEPENDENCE OF MATERNAL SERUM MARKER CONCE NTRATIONS ON THE HAPTOGLOBIN GENE

This paper is the first in a series devoted to the investigation of th e possible effect of maternal genotype on the levels of fetal alpha-fe toprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) entering mater nal blood. We studied the possible association between the maternal ha ptoglobin system and levels of maternal AFP and HCG, which are markers of fetal pathology, Haptoglobin types were determined in groups of pr egnant women with different levels of serum markers. Distribution of h aptoglobin types differed from that theoretically expected in. one out of five groups rested, In the group with low AFP lever, a significant decrease in frequency of the Hp2 allele was found. A statistically s ignificant decrease of the mean haptoglobin concentration in the group with low levels of AFP and elevated levels of HCG was observed, A red uction in serum haptoglobin concentration was shown to be accompanied by a decrease of serum iron concentration. The possible mechanisms und erlying the influence of maternal genotype on the levels of AFP and HC G in maternal blood are discussed.