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Serum immunoreactive erythropoietin of children in health and disease

  • Hematology/Oncology
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Abstract

Serum immunoreactive erythropoietin (siEPO) was determined in cord serum from neonates (n=97, gestational age 36–43 weeks), in healthy children from birth to adolescence (n=260) and in children with haematological (n=30), renal (n=10) and congenital heart diseases (n=70). In healthy children siEPO levels decreased after birth (geometric mean cord siEPO 35.6 mU/ml with 95% range of 17–56 mU/ml in eutrophic, nondistressed fetuses) and reached lowest values during the first 2 months (geometric mean siEPO 11.5 mU/ml). Thereafter siEPO levels increased slightly and were constant between 2 months and adolescence. The geometric mean siEPO for healthy children after birth was 18.8 mU/ml with 95% range of 7–47 mU/ml. These estimates were not significantly different from normal adult values. In newborns with fetal distress (n=15) cord siEPO was significantly elevated (geometric mean 63.0 mU/ml;P<0.001). In children with haematological disease, siEPO and Hb concentration were inversely correlated (log siEPO (mU/ml)=4.1−0.20×Hb (g/dl);r=−0.62;P<0.0005). This relationship was significantly different in children with chronic renal failure (log siEPO (mU/ml)=0.67+0.035×Hb (g/dl);r=0.50;P=0.1). In children with heart disease the geometric mean siEPO was 19.2 mU/ml with 95% range 8–65 mU/ml for cyanotic (SaO2<94%) and 17.7 mU/ml with 95% range of 12–36 mU/ml for acyanotic patients. In this group siEPO values were inversely correlated to the arterial oxygen content (log siEPO (mU/ml) =1.61−2.04×oxygen content (l/l);r=−0.28;P<0.02).

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Abbreviations

EPO:

erythropoietin

siEPO:

serum immunoreactive erythropoietin

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Eckardt, K.U., Hartmann, W., Vetter, U. et al. Serum immunoreactive erythropoietin of children in health and disease. Eur J Pediatr 149, 459–464 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01959395

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