Fluorescence spectral features of blood components of pregnant women

Abstract

During pregnancy, women experience various metabolic and hormonal changes that contribute to foetal development. These changes are investigated in the present study in terms of fluorescent biomolecules found in blood using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy. Comparing a set of blood samples of 14 pregnant women against age-adjusted controls, it could be seen that the amino acid tryptophan is approximately twofold higher in blood plasma of pregnant women (P < 0.1), while the metabolite flavin adenine dinucleotide is approximately 25% lower. Further, the essential oxygen-carrying protein in the haemoglobin, porphyrin, is 80% higher in pregnant women. When these results were compared with the spectral features of blood components of patients with thalassaemia, it was found that erythrocytes had approximately 25% less haemolysis during the tenure of pregnancy.