OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to study the effect of hematinic supplementation on the maternal erythropoietin response during singleton pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: In a randomized, double-blind trial 97 patients with a first-trimester hemoglobin level ≥14.0 gm/dl received either iron and folic acid (hematinic group, n = 53) or a placebo (n = 44). Serial hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum erythropoietin were recorded from maternal blood and from cord blood on delivery. Serum ferritin was measured in the first trimester, at 36 weeks' gestation, and in cord blood. RESULTS: In both groups (1) the mean hemoglobin was lower (p < 0.01) at 40 weeks' gestation than when first examined and (2) the mean serum erythropoietin was higher (p < 0.01). The mean serum ferritin was lower (p < 0.001) in both groups at 36 weeks' gestation than at presentation but higher (p = 0.04) in the hematinic group than in the placebo group. The mean hemoglobin and hematocrit were similar in the two groups until the third trimester but thereafter were higher (p < 0.05) in the hematinic group. The mean maternal serum erythropoietin was higher (p < 0.05) in the placebo group than in the hematinic group after 24 weeks' gestation. The mean cord blood hematologic values were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Maternal serum erythropoietin increased during pregnancy, but this response was reduced in the third trimester in the hematinic-supplemented group. (AM J OBSTET GYNECOL 1994;170:896-901.)

We have investigated the relationship between erythropoietin (Epo) and pH, PaO2 and haematocrit in 100 cord blood samples obtained at Caesarean section prior to labour. Of 82 term (> 37 weeks) infants, 64 were appropriately grown (10th-90th centiles), and their mean cord serum Epo and cord blood Epo was 23 +/- 8 mU/ml (mean +/- SD). Strong inverse correlations were found between cord serum Epo and cord blood pH (r = -0.74; p < 0.0001), and between cord serum Epo and cord blood PaO2 (r = -0.55; p < 0.0001), but not between cord serum Epo and cord haematocrit (r = 0.02; p < 0.9). For the 18 preterm babies (gestation 32.4 +/- 4.1 weeks, birth weight 1,820 +/- 476 g), the Epo level was 36 +/- 8 mU/ml, which was not significantly greater than for the term babies. Strong inverse correlations were again found between Epo and pH (r = -0.87; p < 0.0001) and Epo and PaO2 (r = -0.69; p < 0.002). Babies from complicated pregnancies (intra-uterine growth retardation, pre-eclampsia., antepartum haemorrhage, diabetes mellitus and fetal distress) tended to have higher Epo levels. Thirteen babies had Epo levels > 40 mU/ml, and 11 (85%) of these required neonatal intensive care. Cord serum Epo correlates better with oxygen tension and pH at birth than with fetal growth and haematocrit, which are measures of chronic stress to the fetus.

Breast-feeding is associated with jaundice in the early neonatal period. Previous work has shown levels of the enzyme beta-glucuronidase in maternal breast milk to be related to infant serum bilirubin on postnatal day 21. Our aim was to establish if there was a correlation between the level of breast milk beta-glucuronidase and the degree of early (first week) neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. A study of 55 mother and baby pairs showed that breast milk beta-glucuronidase levels had no relationship with the level of infant serum bilirubin between postnatal days 3 and 6. Breast milk beta-glucuronidase does not directly account for the early neonatal jaundice seen in breast-fed babies.

Conference Article| February 01 1991 Characterisation of CHAPS-solubilised active erythropoietin receptors from Rauscher erythroleukaemic cells using biotinylated erythropoietin MORTEZA AFRASIABI; MORTEZA AFRASIABI 1Department of Haematology, The Queen's University of Belfast, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, N. Ireland, U.K. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar G. ELIZABETH ELDER; G. ELIZABETH ELDER 1Department of Haematology, The Queen's University of Belfast, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, N. Ireland, U.K. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar TERENCE R.J. LAPPIN; TERENCE R.J. LAPPIN 1Department of Haematology, The Queen's University of Belfast, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, N. Ireland, U.K. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar JOHN M. BRIDGES JOHN M. BRIDGES 1Department of Haematology, The Queen's University of Belfast, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, N. Ireland, U.K. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Biochem Soc Trans (1991) 19 (1): 34S. https://doi.org/10.1042/bst019034s Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Citation MORTEZA AFRASIABI, G. ELIZABETH ELDER, TERENCE R.J. LAPPIN, JOHN M. BRIDGES; Characterisation of CHAPS-solubilised active erythropoietin receptors from Rauscher erythroleukaemic cells using biotinylated erythropoietin. Biochem Soc Trans 1 February 1991; 19 (1): 34S. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst019034s Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll JournalsBiochemical Society Transactions Search Advanced Search This content is only available as a PDF. © 1991 Biochemical Society1991 Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.

Hypoxia induces a number of physiological responses including changes in blood gases, changes in acid-base status, and an increase in circulating erythropoietin (Epo) (1). Epo is a glycoprotein hormone that controls the red cell mass and is produced in the kidney. Chronic renal failure (CRF) is almost invariably accompanied by anemia caused by underproduction of Epo (2). However, the diseased kidney retains the ability to respond to short-term hypoxia; Blumberg et al. (3) have shown that an elevation in erythroid stimulating factor (ESF) occurred in patients with dialysis-dependent CRF who were transferred to altitude for a day. Metabolic acidosis and an increase in red cell 2,3-DPG levels, leading to a shift in the oxygen dissociation curve, are also usually found in CRF.