OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate and compare erythropoietin levels as
related to obstetric conditions, including acute and chronic bleeding, pre
eclampsia, and multiple gestations.
STUDY DESIGN: During April 1999 all women in the labor and delivery unit wi
th delivery expected to occur within 24 to 72 hours of admission had erythr
opoietin and hematocrit values obtained. First-trimester hematocrit values,
obstetric problems, medications, and history of vaginal bleeding were obta
ined from patient interview, examination, and the prenatal record. Statisti
cs were analyzed by the Student t test and chi(2).
RESULTS: During a 1-month period, 302 consecutive women were divided into 5
groups on the basis of obstetric events. Group 1 consisted of women with n
ormal, uncomplicated term singleton gestations (n = 230); group 2, women wi
th acute vaginal bleeding (n = 10); group 3, women with chronic vaginal ble
eding (n = 29); group 4, women with multiple gestations In = 13); and group
5, women with preeclampsia In = 16). The mean erythropoietin level in grou
p 1 (20.2 +/- 10.3 mU/mL) was significantly different from values in the ot
her 4 groups (group 2, 74.2 +/- 29.2 mU/mL; group 3, 65.0 +/- 33.0 mU/ml; g
roup 4, 34.8 +/- 16.8 mU/mL; group 5, 43.4 +/- 11.4 mU/mL; P < .001). The a
dmission hematocrit for group 1 (0.369 +/- 0.029) was significantly greater
than for groups 2 and 3 (group 2, 0.323 +/- 0.024; group 3, 0.321 +/- 0.02
3; P < .001) and significantly lower than for group 5 (0.384 +/- 0.022; P <
.05).
CONCLUSION: The maternal serum erythropoietin level varies depending on the
events occurring during gestation. Acute and chronic bleeding, multiple ge
stations, and preeclampsia are all associated with various serum erythropoi
etin levels.