Normal blood cell values in the early mid-trimester fetus

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Fetal Medicine
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Prenatal diagnosis and management of fetal blood disorders rely on accurate fetal blood values.
• Fetoscopic blood sampling is increasingly utilized for prenatal assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normal fetal blood values for fetuses between 15-21 weeks of gestation.
• To characterize the developmental changes in fetal blood cell populations within this gestational range.

Main Methods:

• Direct vision fetoscopy was used to obtain pure fetal blood samples.
• Hematological analysis was performed on samples from 99 presumed normal fetuses (15-21 weeks gestation).

Main Results:

• The erythropoietic system shows rapid evolution during this gestational period.
• Myeloid series counts remain largely stable, with significant increases in eosinophils and basophils.
• Platelet counts are constant throughout this gestational age range.

Conclusions:

• Knowledge of normal fetal blood values is essential for effective prenatal diagnosis and management.
• This study provides a reference for normal hematological parameters in mid-gestation fetuses.