Obstetric conditions and erythropoietin levels

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.