Semin Thromb Hemost 1998; 24(5): 485-490
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-996044
Copyright © 1998 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Hematopoietic Cytokine Levels and In Vitro Colony Formation Assay in Fetal Anemia

Hideto Yamada* , Emi H. Kato* , Itsuko Furuta* , Nobuhiko Hoshi* , Kazuki Koizumi , Kenichi Sawada , Seiichiro Fujimoto*
  • *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and
  • †Department of Second Internal Medicine, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
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Publication History

Publication Date:
06 February 2008 (online)

Abstract

Fetal anemia causes hydrops fetalis and fetal ascites/hydrothorax, and in severe cases the prognosis is poor. Little other than alloimmunity and viral infections are known as mechanisms causing fetal anemia. The aim of this study was to elucidate any pathogenesis in fetal anemia due to otherwise idiopathic etiology. The levels of three hematopoietic cytokines, IL-3, erythropoietin (EPO), and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) were measured in blood samples obtained by cordocentesis from six fetuses with anemia (Hb <10.0 g/dl) and 34 fetuses without anemia. Cordocentesis was performed prior to the onset of labor or uterine contractions in all pregnant women. The concentration of IL-3 in fetuses with anemia [M ± (SD), 8.3 (10.1) pg/ml] was significantly lower than that in fetuses without anemia [59.9 (71.0) pg/ml]. EPO and G-CSF levels were not different between the two groups. In addition, through in vitro colony formation assay, using blood stem cells from two fetuses with severe anemia and three fetuses without anemia, it was found that colony forming unit-erythroid, burst forming unit-erythroid and granulocyte macrophage-colony forming unit were significantly suppressed in blood stem cells from the two fetuses with severe anemia. Thus, the malfunction of differentiation and proliferation of blood stem cells and the decrease of hematopoietic cytokine levels in the fetal circulation may be responsible for the occurrence of fetal anemia.