The significance of nucleated red blood cell counts in low birth weight neonates

ABSTRACT

We studied to assess the relationship between intrauterine growth retardation and theincreased nucleated red blood cell counts (NRBC) in small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriatefor gestational age (AGA) neonates with low birth weight. We also evaluated the nucleated red blood cell counts in low birth weight neonates who had either perinatal asphyzia or hyaline membrane disease (HMD) or died within 7 days after birth. The results were as follows 1) In low birth weight neonates, the mean value for NRBC counts was 9.02/100 WBCs and the mean absolute value for NRBC counts was 0.9210E9/L. 2) The mean values for NRBC counts were 13.4/100 WBCs in SGA and 6.4/100WBCs in AGA. The mean absolute values for NRBC were 1.32x10E9/L in AGA neonates 3) In SGA neonates with low birth weight, the mean NRBC counts wers 19.6/100WBCs in asphyxiated group and 4.5/100WBCs in control group. The mean absolute NRBC counts were 1.9810E9/L in control group. 4) In AGA neonates with low birth weight, the mean NRBC countswere 9.1/100WBCs in asphyxiated group and 2.4/100WBCs in control group. The meanabsolute NRBC counts were 0.98x10E9/L in asphyxiated group and o.23x10E9/L in controlroup. 5) The mean NRBC counts were 13.8/100WBCs in neonates with HMD and 7.1/100WBCs in control group. The mean absolute NRBC counts were 1.50x10E9/L in neonates withHMD and 0.70x10E9/L in control group. 6) The mean NRBC counts were 19.9/100 WBCs in expired group and 6.8/100WBCs in suvived group. The mean absolute NRBC counts were 2.1810E9/L in expired group and 0.66x10E9/L in survived group. 7) The NRBC counts of SGA neonates were significantly higher than that of AGA neonates with low birth weight. 8) The NRBC counts of asphyxiated neonates were significantly higher than that of the control group. 9) The NABC counts of expired neonates were significantly higher than that of the control group. 10) The NRBC counts of expired neonates were significantly higher than that of the survived neonates.