SERUM IMMUNOREACTIVE ERYTHROPOIETIN OF CHILDREN IN HEALTH AND DISEASE

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). © 1990 Springer-Verlag.