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High Hemoglobin Levels During Pregnancy and Fetal Risk
Author(s) -
Koller Oddmund,
Sandvei Roar,
Sagen Norvald
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/j.1879-3479.1980.tb00241.x
Subject(s) - medicine , fetus , obstetrics , pregnancy , abortion , intrauterine death , hemoglobin , fetal death , percentile , statistics , genetics , mathematics , biology
In a series of 24 apparently uncomplicated pregnancies with small‐for‐dates newborn at or below the tenth percentile, 15 women had hemoglobin (Hb) levels 2 SD above the mean value of normal distribution in late pregnancy. Among these 15 was the only case with intrauterine death of unknown cause. In a series of 15 cases with intrauterine fetal death of unknown cause, before start of labor 10 had Hb levels 2 SD above the mean, while in a series of 16 cases of late abortion where the fetus was alive until labor started, only one had a Hb level 2 SD above the mean. In three cases with serial Hb estimations, the levels were 2 SD above the mean one week or more before intrauterine fetal death. Two of these cases also had been observed during a successful pregnancy in which the Hb levels were within normal limits. It is concluded that high Hb levels during pregnancy may indicate a fetus at risk. High viscosity of the mother's blood may impede the uteroplacental circulation, causing placental infarction, growth retardation and ultimately fetal death.