SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF ERYTHROPOIETIN IN HEALTHY AND ANEMIC PREGNANT-WOMEN

We have found serum erythropoietin (EPO) concentration significantly ( p < 0.01) increased during normal pregnancy. Erythropoietin concentrat ion was significantly (p < 0.05) higher before the 24th gestational we ek than after it. In pregnant women with iron deficiency anaemia serum EPO concentration was significantly (p < 0.001) higher than in health y pregnant women. In anaemic women significant (p < 0.001) linear corr elation between haemoglobin (hgb) and log serum EPO concentrations was observed. In pregnant women including both healthy and anaemic women log serum EPO concentrations correlated inversely with hgb concentrati ons (p < 0.01). We conclude that erythropoietin secretion is raised in normal pregnancy and is at highest in the first and second trimesters , when hgb mass begins to grow. In pregnancy with concomitant anaemia a more extensive demand for erythropoietin secretion is obvious.