Open AccessFeto‐Placental Blood Volume In Severely Anemic Erythroblastotic Fetuses
Author(s) -
Westgren Magnus,
Stangenberg Magnus,
Selbing Anders
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016348909028663
Subject(s) - medicine , hemoglobin , hypovolemia , blood volume , fetus , hypervolemia , fetal hemoglobin , intervillous space , hematocrit , endocrinology , placenta , pregnancy , biology , genetics
The feto‐placental blood volume was studied using a hemoglobin hemodilution technique in 15 erythroblastotic fetuses at 43 intravascular transfusions. Four severely anemic fetuses (Hb 30 g/l) had significantly larger blood volumes than 11 moderately anernic fetuses (Hb 30–79 g/l), 169 ± 37 versus 105 ± 32 ml/kg fetal body weight (p<0.001). We speculate that hypovolemia might be an adaptive change to maintain an adequate hemoglobin concentration. An escape of fluid from the intra‐to the extra‐vascular space will probably compensate for the reduction in total red cell mass and thus slightly increase the hemoglobin concentration. Theoretically, interstitial fluid accumulation will continue until the hydrostatic pressure of the extravas‐cular tissue balances that of the capillary. This compensatory mechanism seems to function until the hemoglobin concentration drops below, 30 g/l, at which point the blood volume will increase, suggesting a change from a hypo‐to a hyper‐volemic state.