Neonatal Nucleated Red Cell Count and It’s Relation with Histologic Chorioamnionitis in Preterm Labour

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To see if cord blood nucleated red blood cell count correlates with histological chorioamnionitis in preterm labour.Setting: Al-Kadimiyah Teaching Hospital – Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Study design: Cord blood samples of 100 preterm newborn babies were obtained immediately after preterm labour for complete blood cell count including nucleated red blood cell count. Randomized pieces from placental membranes were taken for histological examination. Patients were divided into those with and without clinical and histological chorioamnionitis.Results: Among 100 patients evaluated (54) had positive histological evidence of chorioamnionitis and (46) had no evidence of histological examination. nucleated red blood cell count increased in the presence of histological chorioamnionitis, the increase was statistically significant (P<0.000001). There was no significant relation between nucleated red blood cell count and clinical chorioamnionitis (P=0.189). Histological chorioamnionitis produces an erythropoietic response in the fetus and cord blood.Conclusion: Histological chorioamnionitis is associated with a rise in nucleated red blood cell count in the fetus which means that histological chorioamnionitis produces an erythropoietic response in the fetus and cord blood. Nucleated red blood cell count is correlated more significantly to histological chorioamnionitis than to clinical chorioamnionitis.