Assignment of resonances for ‘acute‐phase’ glycoproteins in high resolution proton NMR spectra of human blood plasma

Broad resonances at 2.04 and 2.08 ppm in 500 MHz Hahn spin-echo 1H NMR spectra of human blood plasma are assigned to the N-acetyl groups of mobile carbohydrate side-chains (largely N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylneuraminic acid) of glycoproteins such as alpha 1-acid glycoprotein. Their intensities in spin-echo spectra correlate with clinical conditions in which an elevation of the level of 'acute-phase' glycoproteins is expected, and so may be of value in the study of certain diseases.