title: Fetal and maternal erythropoietin levels in normal pregnancy.
abstract: In a cross-sectional study of 120 pregnancies undergoing cordocentesis for prenatal diagnosis (n = 90) or elective caesarean section (n = 30), the umbilical cord and maternal venous plasma erythropoietin (Epo) concentrations were measured. Fetal Epo levels increased from a mean of 4 mU/ml at 16 weeks to 13 mU/ml at 40 weeks' gestation. There were no significant associations between fetal plasma Epo concentration and fetal blood gases, haemoglobin concentration, oxygen content or erythroblast count. The maternal plasma Epo concentration (mean = 14 mU/ml, range 1-77 mU/ml) did not change with gestation but was significantly higher than levels in non-pregnant females (mean = 6.6 mU/ml, range 1-25 mU/ml).
authors.affiliation: Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, King's College School of Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ireland
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thilaganathan
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Melbye
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Snjiders
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Layton
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Nicolaides
mesh_terms: D004900:Erythroblasts; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004920:Erythropoiesis; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D010100:Oxygen