S Barak1, F B Mimouni2, R Stern3, N Cohen2, R Marom2. 1. 1] Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel [2] The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel. 2. 1] The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel [2] Department of Neonatology, The Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medial Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. 3. Department of Hematology, The Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medial Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the hypothesis that maternal body mass index (BMI) (an index of maternal adiposity) correlates with cord blood concentrations of erythropoietin (EPO). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort study of consecutively born singleton term healthy infants born to mothers with various BMIs. Excluded were infants with major factors known to be associated with a potential increase in fetal erythropoiesis. Prepregnancy maternal BMI was calculated from maternal recollection. RESULT: There was a significant correlation between EPO concentrations and maternal BMI (R = 0.427, P = 0.007). This correlation remained significant in multiple stepwise regression analysis using the EPO concentration as the dependent variable, and maternal age, parity, gestational age and Apgar scores (1 or 5 min) as potential confounders. CONCLUSION: Cord blood concentrations of EPO correlate with maternal BMI. We speculate that increasing maternal BMI may represent a relative hypoxic burden on the fetus.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the hypothesis that maternal body mass index (BMI) (an index of maternal adiposity) correlates with cord blood concentrations of erythropoietin (EPO). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort study of consecutively born singleton term healthy infants born to mothers with various BMIs. Excluded were infants with major factors known to be associated with a potential increase in fetal erythropoiesis. Prepregnancy maternal BMI was calculated from maternal recollection. RESULT: There was a significant correlation between EPO concentrations and maternal BMI (R = 0.427, P = 0.007). This correlation remained significant in multiple stepwise regression analysis using the EPO concentration as the dependent variable, and maternal age, parity, gestational age and Apgar scores (1 or 5 min) as potential confounders. CONCLUSION: Cord blood concentrations of EPO correlate with maternal BMI. We speculate that increasing maternal BMI may represent a relative hypoxic burden on the fetus.