Erythropoietin levels in amniotic fluid and extraembryonic coelomic fluid in the first trimester of pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to measure erythropoietin levels in amniotic fluid and extraembryonic coelomic fluid from 7-12 weeks' gestation. SUBJECTS: Twenty healthy women with ultrasonographically normal first trimester pregnancies prior to surgical termination. METHODS: Paired samples of amniotic fluid and extraembryonic coelomic fluid were collected by transvaginal ultrasound guided needling. Erythropoietin was measured in both pregnancy fluids using a radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: There was a highly significant difference between erythropoietin levels in extraembryonic coelomic fluid (median level 15.45 mU/ml; range 6.8-32.1 mU/ml) and those in amniotic fluid (median 5.0 mU/ml; range < 5.0-5.8 mU/ml) (P < 0.0001; Mann-Whitney U-test). The levels of erythropoietin in maternal serum (median 15.4 mU/ml; range 5.6-29.4 mU/ml) were similar to those in the extra-embryonic coelom (P = 0.81; Mann-Whitney U-test). No relation was demonstrated between erythropoietin levels in amniotic fluid or coelomic fluid and stage of gestation. CONCLUSION: High levels of erythropoietin in coelomic fluid suggests that the hormone is involved in the process of human extraembryonic erythropoiesis. The exact regulatory role remains unknown.