ERYTHROPOIETIN CONCENTRATIONS AND ERYTHROPOIESIS IN NEWBORNS SUFFERING FROM RENAL AGENESIS AND CONGENITAL KIDNEY-DISEASES

We studied serum concentrations of erythropoietin (EPO) in the cord bl ood of 31 newborns. In patients with renal agenesis (n = 6), the EPO l evels were 68.2 (23-177) mU/ml (median, range). These values are clear ly above EPO levels in the reference groups (median/range: < 30 weeks 11.0 (5.5-17.5) mU/ml; 30-32 weeks 18.1 (5.5-136) mU/ml; 33-34 weeks 1 7.7 (8.36-423) mU/ml; 35-37 weeks 17.3 (5.5-272) mU/ml; greater than o r equal to 38 weeks 17.8 (8.7-40.3) mU/ml). Neonates with polycystic k idney diseases (n = 12, EPO 23.5 (9.7-491) mU/ml) and with severe bila teral hydronephrosis due to obstructive uropathy (n = 13, 18.6 (7.5-30 .7) mU/ml) showed no difference to the reference groups. In all groups there were only slight differences in haemoglobin/haematocrit values. Conclusion In spite of renal agenesis and severe congenital kidney di seases, erythropoiesis is sufficiently maintained during fetal life. T he liver of congenitally kidney-damaged fetuses is sufficiently able t o compensate the reduction in - or -lack of - renal EPO production.