Hepcidin and erythropoietin measurements in the cord blood of neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid

Aim: To compare hepcidin and erythropoietin levels in the cord blood of neonates with meconium‐stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) to levels obtained from age‐, body mass index‐ and gravidity‐matched neonates with clear amniotic fluid. Methods: A cross‐sectional controlled study was conducted in secondary and tertiary care centers. Cord blood samples of 40 neonates following term gestations (≥37 weeks' gestation) with MSAF and 40 maternal age‐, body mass index‐ and gravidity‐matched controls with clear amniotic fluid were analyzed in this study. Demographic data, delivery outcomes and laboratory evaluations were recorded. Results: Cord blood pH levels were lower in fetuses with MSAF when compared to those with clear amniotic fluid (P = 0.0001). Fetuses with MSAF had higher cord blood erythropoietin levels in comparison to those with clear amniotic fluid (P = 0.0001). Delivery outcomes and hepcidin measurements were similar in both groups. Conclusions: We demonstrated a significant relationship between erythropoietin levels and meconium passage, but failed to show the existence of a relationship between hepcidin levels and meconium passage.