Haemoglobin Concentrations and Erythropoietin Levels in Appropriate and Small for Gestational Age Infants

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Abstract
Capillary Hb concentration on the 1st day of life was registered in 201 infants with weight appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and in 99 infants small for gestational age (SGA). In both groups Hb increased towards term (P < 0.01), while the SGA infants reached higher Hb concentration at term (21.5 .+-. 1.9 g/dl) than the AGA infants (17.9 .+-. 1.5 g/dl) (P < 0.001). The cord serum erythroprotein (EP) level increased towards term equally in both groups. Delivery did not seem to influence the EP level as the same values were obtained in cord serum from infants delivered by elective cesarean section as after uncomplicated vaginal delivery. No correlation was found between cord serum EP and 1st day capillary PCV [packed cell volume]. Postnatally a rapid fall in the EP level occurred. In healthy adults no serum EP activity was detected. Increasing hypoxia, rapid growth and shift from hepatic to myeloid erythropoiesis may be related to the increasing Hb concentration and serum EP level towards term. Improvement of oxygenation during air breathing may cause decreasing serum EP level after birth.