Umbilical plasma erythropoietin, hematocrits and their relationship to umbilical arterial blood gas, Apgar score and perinatal risk factors.

This study was to assess the relationships of umbilical plasma erythropoietin (EPO) and hematocrit (Hct) levels with the umbilical arterial blood gas data, 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores, and other perinatal risk factors in 51 infants born at our hospital. Mean umbilical arterial pH, PCO2, PO2, base excess, oxygen saturation and Hct were not significantly different in infants of appropriate for gestational age (AGA) (n = 26), large for gestational age (LGA) (n = 6) and small for gestational age (SGA) (n = 19). The median umbilical plasma EPO levels in AGA, SGA, and LGA infants were 26.06 mU/ml, 28.81 mU/ml and 25.20 mU/ml respectively. Mean levels of EPO were comparable among the groups. Infants born by vaginal route who were SGA, LGA, or associated with maternal preeclampsia, maternal anemia and intrauterine hemolysis had significantly higher EPO levels than the other infants. While infants with heavy meconium staining (n = 5) had significantly lower umbilical PO2 than those who without it (n = 35), there was no difference in EPO and Hct levels among heavy, light and no meconium staining infants. There was poor correlation between the plasma EPO, Hct levels, Apgar scores and blood gas data. We conclude that umbilical EPO and Hct levels did not correlate significantly with Apgar scores, and umbilical blood gas data, neither were they associated with intrauterine growth patterns and meconium staining. High risk infants, especially those delivered by vaginal route had significantly higher EPO levels. The significance of high umbilical EPO values and their relation to the neurological outcome warrants further study.