Background: Preeclampsia(PE) is culpable of the placental hypoxia that persists during pregnancy. The number of nucleated red blood cells in the cord blood (cNRBCs) is a sign of a hypoxic fetal environment. It might be a potential indication of intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR).
Objective: The goal is to ascertain whether pre-eclampsia is related to an increase in the number of cNRBCs in cord blood, especially those with restricted growth.
Methods: This case control study was conducted on 150 neonates who were divided into three equal groups; group I included newborns of PE women, without IUGR, group II included newborns of PE women, with IUGR and group III included apparently healthy newborns of healthy non-PE pregnant women as a control group. As soon as the cord was clamped, samples for complete blood count and blood gases were taken from the umbilical vein.
Results: cNRBCs count was significantly higher in group with PE and IUGR compared to PE without IUGR and the control groups. The cutoff value of cNRBC to discriminate newborns of healthy mothers and those with PE was ≥ 8 cNRBCs/100 WBCs. Yet the value to discriminate newborns of PE mothers with IUGR and without IUGR was ≥ 22 NRBCs/100 WBCs.
Conclusion: When PE was compared to controls, it was discovered that cNRBCs were considerably greater. Moreover, higher cNRBCs was found in PE with IUGR compared to PE without IUGR. Thus, cNRBCs count has predictive value for IUGR. It may be used to tell growth-restricted babies from small-for-their-age children.