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Neonatal nucleated red blood cell counts in twins
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Toyama Prefectural Central Hospital, Toyama, Japan. hidemi-m@p1.coralnet.or.jp
Journal of Perinatal Medicine
|May 10, 2001
Summary
Nucleated red blood cells (NRBC) in umbilical cord blood correlate with gestational age and birth weight in twins. Lower NRBC counts are linked to higher gestational age and birth weight, suggesting potential in-utero oxygen differences.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Perinatology
- Hematology
Background:
- Nucleated red blood cells (NRBC) are immature red blood cells.
- NRBC levels in umbilical cord blood can indicate fetal stress or hypoxia.
- Understanding NRBC in twins is important due to unique physiological considerations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize nucleated red blood cells (NRBC) in umbilical cord blood of twins.
- To investigate the association between NRBC counts and gestational age in twins.
- To explore the relationship between NRBC levels and birth weight in twin pregnancies.
Main Methods:
- Collected umbilical cord blood from 98 twins (49 twin pregnancies).
- Measured nucleated red blood cells (NRBC) per 100 white blood cells (WBC).
- Analyzed NRBC association with gestational age and birth weight, stratified by placental type (monochorionic/dichorionic).
Main Results:
- NRBC counts showed a nearly normal distribution and correlated negatively with gestational age and birth weight in both MC and DC twins.
- Smaller twins, particularly in dichorionic gestations, had significantly higher NRBC counts.
- Greater intertwin differences in birth weight were associated with larger intertwin differences in NRBC levels.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal NRBC levels in twins are reflective of gestational age and birth weight.
- Findings suggest the smaller twin may experience relative in-utero hypoxia compared to the larger twin.
- NRBC may serve as a biomarker for assessing fetal well-being in twin pregnancies.