Korean J Pediatr.  2011 Feb;54(2):69-78. 10.3345/kjp.2011.54.2.69.

A study on the measurement of the nucleated red blood cell (nRBC) count based on birth weight and its correlation with perinatal prognosis in infants with very low birth weights

• Kil TH
• Han JY
• Kim JB
• Ko GO
• Lee YH
• Kim KY
• Lim JW

• KMID: 2073624
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2011.54.2.69

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was conducted to investigate the mean nRBC count in very low births weight infants (VLBWIs) and to determine the usefulness of the nRBC as an independent prognostic factors of perinatal complications in VLBWIs.
METHODS
This study was conducted on 112 VLBWIs who were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the author's hospital within the period from March 2003 to and May 2008. Based on the infants' nucleated red blood cells (nRBC) counts at birth, on the third day after birth, on the seventh day after birth, in the second week after birth, and in the fourth week after birth in the medical records, the correlation between nRBC or absolute nRBC counts with birth weight, gestational age, and other perinatal outcomes were retrospectively investigated.
RESULTS
In VLBWIs, their mean nRBC and absolute nRBC counts were showing a gradual decrease after birth, and they were consisteantly kept at low values since one week after and inversely proportional to the birth weights. The mean nRBC counts based on the stage after birth showed a significant correlation with perinatal death, necrotizing enterocolitis, and severe intraventricular hemorrhage.
CONCLUSION
The increase in the nRBC count showed a significant correlation with having a severe intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, and perinatal death in VLBWIs. If an increase or no decrease in the nRBC count after birth is observed, newborn-infant care precautions should be required.

Keyword

Very Low Birth Weight; Premature infants; Nucleated red blood cells; Perinatal outcome; Reference values

MeSH Terms

Birth Weight
Enterocolitis, Necrotizing
Erythrocytes
Gestational Age
Hemorrhage
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
Intensive Care, Neonatal
Medical Records
Parturition
Prognosis
Reference Values
Retrospective Studies