Objective: To compare maternal, cord blood erythropoietin (EPO), and copeptin levels in low-risk term deliveries which are complicated by meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) to those with clear amniotic fluid. Also, to evaluate the relations between these markers and cord blood pH values.
Methods: Low-risk term pregnant women with MSAF at an active phase of labor were defined as the study group (n = 39). Pregnant women with clear amniotic fluid were selected for the control group (n = 41). The two groups were matched for age, body mass index and gestational age. Maternal, cord blood EPO and copeptin levels with cord blood pH values were also measured.
Results: Maternal, cord blood EPO, and copeptin levels of study and control groups were 42.6 ± 9.0 versus 40.7 ± 9.2, 134.2 (20.5-834.6) versus 38.4 (10.3-114.2), 4.9 (0.1-31.1) versus 4.0 (3.1-28.4), and 4.7 (2.6-25.5) versus 3.6 (2.0-23.2), respectively. The differences were statistically significant for cord blood EPO, maternal and cord blood copeptin levels (p < 0.001, p = 0.004, p < 0.001, respectively). The study group had a statistically and significantly lower cord blood pH values (7.25 ± 0.05 versus 7.34 ± 0.04, p < 0.001). Moreover, cord blood EPO and maternal and cord blood copeptin levels were inversely correlated with cord blood pH values in the study group (p < 0.001, p = 0.005, and p = 0.009, respectively).
Conclusion: We suggest that higher cord blood EPO and maternal and cord blood copeptin levels may be an indicator of fetal acidosis in low-risk term deliveries complicated by MSAF.
Keywords: Acidosis; copeptin; erythropoietin; fetal hypoxia; meconium.