Are maternal diabetes and preeclampsia independent simulators of fetal erythropoietin production?

To determine if diabetes and preeclampsia are independent stimulators of er ythropoietin, distinct from hypoxia, we measured umbilical cord plasma eryt hropoietin in 239 deliveries from 24 to 40 weeks of gestation. Mean plasma erythropoietin levels were not different between normal, diabetic, and pree clamptic women when all deliveries were analyzed. When infants with suspect ed intrauterine hypoxia were excluded, the mean erythropoietin level was co nsiderably lower within all three groups but there was no difference among the groups. In suspected hypoxia, the mean fetal erythropoietin was elevate d, but there was no difference between control, diabetic, or preeclamptic p regnancies. These results provide further support that hypoxia remains the only known stimulator of erythropoietin production in the fetus.