High amniotic fluid erythropoietin concentration reflects chronic fetal hypoxia. Our aim was to study amniotic fluid erythropoietin concentration in relation to neonatal outcome in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction.
Retrospective case series.
Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
A total of 66 singleton pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction.
Amniocentesis or amniotic fluid sampling at cesarean section was performed between 24 and 34 gestational weeks. Values of amniotic fluid erythropoietin were quantitated with immunochemiluminometric assay. Normal amniotic fluid erythropoietin was defined as 27 IU/L.
Adverse neonatal outcome.
Abnormal biophysical profile and reversed end-diastolic flow in umbilical artery were associated with abnormal amniotic fluid erythropoietin (p