High amniotic fluid erythropoietin levels are associated with an increased frequency of fetal and neonatal morbidity in Type 1 diabetic pregnancies

In this study we investigated whether chronic fetal hypoxia, as indicated by amniotic fluid erythropoietin levels, is associated with perinatal morbidity in type 1 diabetic pregnancies. A total of 331 women with type 1 diabetes had at least one childbirth between 1995 and 2000. The amniotic fluid erythropoietin concentration was measured in 156 diabetic singleton pregnancies at a median time of 1 day before Caesarean section without labour contractions and in 19 healthy control subjects at Caesarean section. The median amniotic fluid erythropoietin level was 14.0 mU/ml (range 2.0-1975.0) in diabetic pregnancies and 6.3 mU/ml (range 1.7-13.7) in controls (p