title: Amniotic fluid erythropoietin and neonatal outcome in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction before 34 gestational weeks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High amniotic fluid erythropoietin concentration reflects chronic fetal hypoxia. Our aim was to study amniotic fluid erythropoietin concentration in relation to neonatal outcome in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 66 singleton pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Amniocentesis or amniotic fluid sampling at cesarean section was performed between 24 and 34 gestational weeks. Values of amniotic fluid erythropoietin were quantitated with immunochemiluminometric assay. Normal amniotic fluid erythropoietin was defined as <3 IU/L, intermediate as 3-27 IU/L, and abnormal as >27 IU/L.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adverse neonatal outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Abnormal biophysical profile and reversed end-diastolic flow in umbilical artery were associated with abnormal amniotic fluid erythropoietin (p < 0.001 and p = 0.042, respectively). Abnormal amniotic fluid erythropoietin was not associated with absent end-diastolic flow in umbilical artery or with oligohydramnios (p = 0.404 and p = 0.080, respectively). Decreased umbilical artery pH and base excess values were associated with abnormal amniotic fluid erythropoietin (p = 0.027 and p = 0.007, respectively). Composite adverse neonatal outcome defined as intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, cerebral infarction and/or necrotizing enterocolitis was associated with abnormal amniotic fluid erythropoietin (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High amniotic fluid erythropoietin concentrations are associated with decreased umbilical artery pH and base excess and with adverse neonatal outcome in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction before 34 gestational weeks. In selected pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction, determining amniotic fluid erythropoietin could be a useful additional tool in fetal surveillance and possibly in optimizing timing of delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Seikku
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rahkonen
authors.forename: Minna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tikkanen
authors.forename: Esa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hämäläinen
authors.forename: Petri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rahkonen
authors.forename: Sture
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Teramo
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paavonen
authors.forename: Vedran
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stefanovic
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000378:metabolism*; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004921:Erythropoietin
keywords: Intrauterine growth restriction; amniocentesis; amniotic fluid; antenatal diagnosis; erythropoietin; intrauterine hypoxia; timing of delivery