[Blood volume measurement of newborn using stable isotope 50Cr]

A technique for the blood volume measurement of newborns was established in which nonradioactive 50Cr was used in patients for whom radioactive labels were not advisable. The red blood cells (RBC) in the newborn's blood withdrawn from umbilical cord after birth were tagged with enriched stable isotope 50Cr (96%, normal abundance 4.3%) and reinjected into the newborn. Blood samples (0.5 ml) were withdrawn at 30 min and thereafter at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 120 hours old. Samples were centrifugalized and portion of RBC was then freeze-dried, weighed and sealed into polyethylene sheet bag together with 50Cr standard. Neutron irradiation was performed in the reactors of the JAERI with thermal neutron flux 5 X 10(13), 2 X 10(13), 8 X 10(13) cm-2s-1 at JRR-2, -3 and -4 respectively for 20 min and samples were left for about two weeks after irradiation. Induced radioactivity (51Cr, 59Fe) of the sample was measured with a Ge(Li) gamma-ray detector system and 4096 channels pulse height analyzer. Analysis of activity data was carried out by BOB-76 code. The RBC and total blood volume of the newborn was calculated using an isotopic dilution technique. We have investigated on tagging efficiency of 50Cr to RBC, washing effect and dilution rate by 50Cr content or 51Cr/59Fe ratio. Significant difference was observed in the total blood volume of newborns depending on the delivery style and in addition, it changed dynamically along the time elapsed after birth.