title: Erythropoietin concentration among patients with and without preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Controversy exists in the literature regarding the association between erythropoietin levels and preeclampsia. This study was aimed to compare serum erythropoietin concentrations among patients with and without preeclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was designed and two groups were defined: 22 patients with preeclampsia (study group) and 19 normotensive patients (control group). Preeclampsia was defined as blood pressure higher than 140 mmHg systolic or 90 mmHg diastolic and proteinuria > 300/24 h or dipstick > 1. Women in the control group were matched for gestational age. Blood was collected in tubes containing EDTA, and centrifuged in 4 degrees C within 30 min of collection. Serum erythropoietin level was determined by ELISA (R&D Systems, Inc. Minneapolis, USA). Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS package.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Erythropoietin concentration was higher among patients with preeclampsia, but did not reach significance (24.8 +/- 8.9 mU/ml vs. 19.9 +/- 9.9 mU/ml; P-0.19). Also, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were similar in both groups (12.0 +/- 4.2 g/dl vs. 11.6 +/- 3.9 g/dl; P-0.16 and 36.5 +/- 10.8% vs. 35.3 +/- 11.4%; P-0.13, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A nonsignificant trend towards higher maternal serum levels of erythropoietin was demonstrated among patients with preeclampsia. Further prospective studies are needed to investigate the association between preeclampsia and erythropoietin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, P.O.B. 151, Beer-Sheva, 84101, Israel. elih@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
authors.forename: Reli
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hershkovitz
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ohel
authors.forename: Boaz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sheizaf
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nathan
authors.forename: Offer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erez
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sheiner
authors.forename: Avram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinku
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D004921:Erythropoietin