[Erythrocyte glutathione reductase in pregnant women with hemoglobin AA and AS].

Purpose: To evaluate the catalytic activity of the red cell enzyme, glutathione reductase (GR) in pregnant women with Hb AS and with Hb AA, and in a group of non-pregnant women with Hb AA, as well as the relationship of GR deficiency with Hb S.

Patients and methods: The catalytic activity was determined in presence and absence of FAD by means of a modified Long and Carson technique. 59 pregnant women with AS and 33 with AA phenotypes were studied.

Results: Differences were found in the enzyme's catalytic activity with and without FAD, both in pregnant women with Hb AS (mean values 37.17 nka/g y Hb in whites and 42.84 nkat/g HS in afro people) and in those with Hb AA, and also in non-pregnant women with Hb AA. A high frequency of GR deficiency was found in all groups due to an insufficient riboflavin supply in diet.

Conclusion: A correlation between GR deficiency and Hb S could not be demonstrated. The coefficient of activity of red cell GR shows a tendency to increase in pregnancy due to certain riboflavin deficit of diet.