Amniotic fluid erythropoietin and neonatal outcome in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction before 34 gestational weeks. (6th January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Seikku, Laura; Rahkonen, Leena; Tikkanen, Minna; Hämäläinen, Esa; Rahkonen, Petri; Andersson, Sture; Teramo, Kari; Paavonen, Jorma; Stefanovic, Vedran
• Is Part Of: Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica. Volume 94:Number 3(2015)
• Page Start: 288
• Page End: 294
• Publication Date: 2015-01-06
• Subjects: Gynecology -- Periodicals; Pregnancy -- Periodicals; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; 618.05
• DOI: 10.1111/aogs.12553
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-6349

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="aogs12553-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="aogs12553-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12553-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>Retrospective case series.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12553-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Setting</title> <p>Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12553-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Sample</title> <p>A total of 66 singleton pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12553-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>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 <3 IU/L, intermediate as 3–27 IU/L, and abnormal as >27 IU/L.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12553-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Main outcome measures</title> <p>Adverse neonatal outcome.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12553-sec-0007" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Abnormal biophysical profile and reversed end‐diastolic flow in umbilical artery were associated with abnormal amniotic fluid erythropoietin (<italic>p </italic><<italic> </italic>0.001 and <italic>p </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.042, respectively). Abnormal amniotic fluid erythropoietin was not associated with absent end‐diastolic flow in umbilical artery or with oligohydramnios (<italic>p </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.404 and <italic>p </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.080, respectively). Decreased umbilical artery pH and base excess values were associated with abnormal amniotic fluid erythropoietin (<italic>p </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.027 and <italic>p </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.007, respectively). Composite adverse neonatal outcome defined as intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, cerebral infarction and/or necrotizing enterocolitis was associated with abnormal amniotic fluid erythropoietin (<italic>p </italic><<italic> </italic>0.001).</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12553-sec-0008" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>High amniotic fluid erythropoietin concentrations are associated with decreased umbilical artery pH and base excess and with adverse neonatal outcome in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction before 34 gestational weeks. In selected pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction, determining amniotic fluid erythropoietin could be a useful additional tool in fetal surveillance and possibly in optimizing timing of delivery.</p> </sec> </abstract>