Diagnostic significance of serum erythropoietin as a marker of perinatal brain damage in premature newborns with very low birth weight

The search for promising markers of brain damage in premature newborns is important for the development and optimization of individual diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to neuroprotection in neonatology. Objective: to evaluate the diagnostic significance of serum erythropoietin (sEPO) on the 1st day of life as a marker of perinatal brain damage in premature infants with very low birth weight (VLBW). The study protocol was approved by the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (Minutes No.12 of 17 November 2016) and the Scientific Council (Minutes No.19 of 29 November 2016) of the National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after the Academician V.I. Kulakov of Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation. Written informed consent to the patients' participation in the study was obtained from their parents. The study included 47 premature infants with VLBW born in 2018 at the National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation. In these patients, sEPO was determined on the 1st day of life. Depending on the level of sEPO, infants were divided into 3 groups: group 1 – premature infants with VLBW with a low sEPO level on the 1st day of life (< 20 IU/L, n = 24); group 2 – premature infants with VLBW with an average sEPO level of 20–39 IU/L (reference values) (n = 14) – control group; group 3 – premature infants with VLBW with an elevated sEPO level (≥ 40 IU/L, n = 9). We determined the frequency of brain damage, including intraventricular hemorrhages (IVH) and periventricular leukomalacia. sEPO was not correlated with gestational age. In group 1, IVH ≤ Grade II was observed in 4/24 (16.7%) infants; in group 2, IVH ≤ Grade II was observed in 3/14 (21.4%) infants, and 1/14 (7.1%) infant had IVH Grade III; in group 3, IVH ≤ Grade II was noted in 1/9 (11.1%) infant, and IVH Grade III – in 1/9 (11.1%) infant, p > 0.05. There were no cases of periventricular leukomalacia. A high sEPO level on the 1st day of life in premature infants with VLBW was not associated with an increased risk of perinatal brain damage. The clinical value and practical significance of the determination of sEPO on the 1st day of life as a marker of perinatal brain damage in premature infants with VLBW did not demonstrate any benefits. Further studies are required to assess the role of sEPO in predicting neonatal outcomes.