Estimation of cord blood erythropoietin in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia

Objective: The estimation of cord blood erythropoietin in subjects with pre -eclampsia and eclampsia. Method: Erythropoietin was measured, using ELISA, in the cord blood of infants born to 83 mothers with pre-eclampsia, and 7 with eclampsia. Another 90 subjects with no evidence of pre-eclampsia or ec lampsia were taken as control subjects. Maternal parity, gestational age, b lood pressures, 24-h urine protein and Apgar scores of the infants delivere d were also noted. Result: Cord blood erythropoietin levels were statistica lly significantly higher (P < 0.001) in infants born to mothers with pre-ec lampsia and eclampsia. There was a significant positive correlation (P < 0. 01) between cord blood erythropoietin levels and maternal blood pressure (s ystolic and diastolic) and albuminuria. A negative correlation (P < 0.01) w as observed with the birth weights of infants. Conclusion: Pre-eclampsia an d eclampsia are associated with higher levels of cord blood erythropoietin. (C) 2000 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. All rights reserved.