One follow-up study from 1988 revealed that high umbilical plasma EPO levels after acute birth asphyxia (n = 31, of whom 5 preterm children), but not after pre-eclampsia (n = 62, of whom 42 preterm children), were associated with an increased risk of cerebral palsy, a Bayley Mental Developmental Index below 90, or death at the 2 years of age.13 Our results are rather similar to these preliminary results obtained with a small study population, although our analyzes were not limited to the asphyxia group alone. The gene discussed is EPO; the disease is cerebral palsy.