title: Fetal gender and several cytokines are associated with the number of fetal cells in maternal blood--an observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify factors influencing the number of fetal cells in maternal blood.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 57 pregnant women at a gestational age of weeks 11-14 were included. The number of fetal cells in maternal blood was assessed in 30 ml of blood using specific markers for both enrichment and subsequent identification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants carrying male fetuses had a higher median number of fetal cells in maternal blood than those carrying female fetuses (5 vs. 3, p = 0.04). Certain cytokines (RANTES, IL-2 and IL-5) were significantly associated with the number of fetal cells in maternal blood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of fetal cells in maternal blood is associated with certain cytokines and fetal gender.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jacob Mørup
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schlütter
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kirkegaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Olav Bjørn
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nanna
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: FCMB ApS, Vejle, Denmark.
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hougaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Genetics, University of Southern Denmark, Vejle Hospital, Vejle, Denmark.
authors.forename: Steen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kølvraa
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uldbjerg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000276:immunology; D002469:Cell Separation; D058948:Cell Tracking; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: C483024:CCL5 protein, human; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; C508599:IL5 protein, human; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015848:Interleukin-5