Erythropoietin concentrations and erythropoiesis in newborns suffering from renal agenesis and congenital kidney diseases

We studied serum concentrations of erythropoietin (EPO) in the cord blood of 31 newborns. In patients with renal agenesis (n = 6), the EPO levels were 68.2 (23-177) mU/ml (median, range). These values are clearly above EPO levels in the reference groups (median/range: < 30 weeks 11.0 (5.5-17.5) mU/ml; 30-32 weeks 18.1 (5.5-136) mU/ml; 33-34 weeks 17.7 (8.36-423) mU/ml; 35-37 weeks 17.3 (5.5-272) mU/ml; greater than or equal to 38 weeks 17.8 (8.7-40.3) mU/ml). Neonates with polycystic kidney diseases (n = 12, EPO 23.5 (9.7-491) mU/ml) and with severe bilateral hydronephrosis due to obstructive uropathy (n = 13, 18.6 (7.5-30.7) mU/ml) showed no difference to the reference groups. In all groups there were only slight differences in haemoglobin/haematocrit values. Conclusion In spite of renal agenesis and severe congenital kidney diseases, erythropoiesis is sufficiently maintained during fetal life. The liver of congenitally kidney-damaged fetuses is sufficiently able to compensate the reduction in - or -lack of - renal EPO production.