title: Erythropoiesis of very low-birth-weight infants dependent on prenatal growth rate and protein status.
abstract: This study investigated erythropoiesis in very low-birth-weight infants with special reference to the role of protein status in the regulation of erythropoiesis in 22 appropriate- and 11 small-for-gestational-age infants. Blood samples were drawn at three and six weeks of age. The serum concentrations of erythropoietin, estimated by a solid-phase enzyme immunoassay, were similar in the two groups at both study ages. The total circulating erythrocyte volume and the serum concentration of prealbumin were higher in the appropriate- than in the small-for-gestational-age infants at three and six weeks of age. The former group had a better protein status, although their protein intake was similar or lower. We conclude that erythropoiesis in very low-birth-weight infants is influenced more by protein status and prenatal growth than by serum concentration of erythropoietin.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kivivuori
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Järvenpää
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salmenperä
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Viinikka
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Siimes
mesh_terms: D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D004911:Erythrocyte Volume; D004920:Erythropoiesis; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000502:physiology; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D011228:Prealbumin; D004921:Erythropoietin