Cord blood nucleated red blood cell level: is it a predictive marker for neonatal jaundice?

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate if the cord blood nucleated red blood cell (nRBC) levels can predict the development of hyperbilirubinemia in healthy neonates. Methods: All healthy newborn infants born after 35 or more weeks of gestation at our hospital between January 2016 and April 2017 were included. The levels of nRBC were counted in umbilical cord blood samples. Neonates were grouped into two study groups based on the presence or absence of neonatal jaundice. Results: The study included overall 149 eligible newborn infants. The levels of nRBC and absolute nRBC count showed statistically significant differences between newborns with or without jaundice (p =0.01 and 0.02, respectively). Conclusions: We suggest that increased nRBC counts in cord blood may be a predictive marker for hyperbilirubinemia in healthy newborn infants.