Erythropoietin in amniotic fluid as a marker of chronic fetal hypoxia

Objective: To determinate the erythropoietin concentration in amniotic fluid in normal pregnancies and pregnancies with suspected hypoxia. Method: The erythropoietin concentration of 164 samples of amniotic fluid was determined by ELISA. The samples were taken by amniotomy during birth, as well as amniocentesis conducted during prenatal care. Results: A distribution of 1.07–7.29 U/l (10th–90th percentile) within the normal group (n=106) was determined. Significantly elevated erythropoietin levels in amniotic fluid were determined in maternal hypertension (P=0.039) and low birth-weight children (P=0.0032). A correlation with the child's sex could be excluded. Conclusion: Elevated erythropoietin levels in amniotic fluid indicated chronic fetal hypoxia.