The feasibility of using histologic placental sections to predict newborn nucleated red blood cell counts.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the feasibility of using calculated nucleated red blood cell (RBC) counts from histologic placental slides to predict newborn nucleated RBC counts.


METHODS
This retrospective study compared absolute nucleated RBC counts from 24 newborns, diagnosed with fetal distress in labor, with counts calculated from their histologic placental slides. A simple linear regression model was tested with newborn nucleated RBC counts as the dependent variable and calculated placental nucleated RBC counts as the independent variable.


RESULTS
The mean +/- standard deviation newborn nucleated RBC count was 4.81 x 10(9) +/- 5.46 x 10(9)/L compared with 1.37 x 10(9) +/- 1.78 x 10(9)/L calculated from placental sections. These data were normalized by logarithmic transformation. A significant linear regression was obtained, r(2) = 0.74, P <.001. The prediction equation obtained was natural logarithm (newborn nucleated RBC count) is equal to 1.002 x natural logarithm (placental nucleated RBC count) + 1.173.


CONCLUSIONS
It is feasible to calculate nucleated RBC counts from histologic slides of the placenta that are predictive of newborn nucleated RBC counts. Further work on more homogeneous groups of subjects is necessary to increase the precision of the method. The placenta could serve as a surrogate source for newborn whole blood nucleated RBC counts around the time of birth.
Curtin
William M
WM
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 14642, USA. william_curtin@URMC.rochester.edu
Shehata
Bahig M
BM
Khuder
Sadik A
SA
Robinson
Haynes B
HB
Brost
Brian C
BC
D004900:Erythroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000097:blood*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity