Premium
PLASMA ERYTHROPOIETIN CONCENTRATIONS DURING THE EARLY ANEMIA OF PREMATURITY
Author(s) -
HÅGÅ P.,
MEBERG A.,
HALVORSEN S.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1983.tb09824.x
Subject(s) - erythropoietin , hematocrit , medicine , hemoglobin , anemia , reticulocyte , erythropoiesis , gestational age , physiology , endocrinology , birth weight , pregnancy , biology , biochemistry , genetics , messenger rna , gene
. Plasma erythropoietin concentrations were studied in 11 preterm appropriate for gestational age infants at the age of 3‐14 weeks. Their birth weights ranged from 860‐1690 g. Erythropoietin was measured by a cell culture technique. Significant concentrations of erythropoietin was detected in 18 out of 29 samples, at all stages of the early anemia. The highest levels were found at 3‐9 weeks. Individual erythropoietin values did not correlate with hemoglobin concentrations, hematocrit levels or ‘corrected' reticulocyte counts, nor did the ‘corrected’ reticulocyte count correlate with hemoglobin or hematocrit. The lack of correlation with hemoglobin concentration most likely reflects the importance of other factors as well as the hemoglobin in determining the oxygenation status of the infant. A significant positive correlation ( r =0.60, p <0.01) was found between erythropoietin concentration and weight gain in the preceding week. The study shows that small preterm infants are capable of erythropoietin production during their early anemia, and indicates that the hormone plays a role in the regulation of erythropoiesis also at this time of life.