Abstract：OBBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of erythropoietinerythrogenin (Epo) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and to study the relationship between Epo levels and brain injury. METHODS: Serum Epo levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 26 neonates with HIE (HIE group, 8 mild, 10 moderate and 8 severe ) and 8 normal neonates (Control group) at 0-24 hrs, 48-72 hrs and 7-10 days of their lives. CSF Epo levels were measured at 48-72 hrs of their lives and brain MRI scans were taken 7-10 days after birth in the HIE group. RESULTS: In the Control group, serum Epo levels decreased significantly within days after birth (P<0.05); However, in the HIE group serum Epo levels increased during 1-3 days then decreased thereafter; Significantly decreased levels were observed only in mild HIE neonates ( P< 0.05). In every time period, the serum Epo concentration in severe HIE neonates was significantly higher than in mild and moderate HIE neonates. It was also observed that CSF Epo levels in severe HIE neonates were significantly higher than those of mild and moderate HIE neonates (P<0.01). There was a significant linear and positive correlation between serum and CSF Epo levels at 48-72 hrs in severe HIE neonates (r= 0.76, P< 0.05), but not in mild and moderate HIE neonates. CSF Epo levels in neonates with severe cranial MRI abnormalities were significantly higher than those of neonates with mild and moderate cranial MRI abnormalities (P< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The maintained and increased serum Epo levels may be a marker of severe hypoxic-ischemia in neonates with HIE. CSF Epo levels can reflect the severity of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia; Impaired blood-brain barrier might account for the increased CSF Epo levels.
CHEN Ning,MAO Jian,DU Yue. Erythropoietin levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy[J]. CJCP, 2005, 7(2): 107-111.
