Human Umbilical Cord Blood CD34-Positive Cells as Predictors of the Incidence and Short-Term Outcome of Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Pilot Study

摘要

Background and Purpose Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is one of the leading causes of neurological handicap in developing countries. Human umbilical cord blood (hUCB) CD34-positive (CD34+) stem cells exhibit the potential for neural repair. We tested the hypothesis that hUCB CD34+ stem cells and other cell types [leukocytes and nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs)] that are up-regulated during the acute stage of perinatal asphyxia (PA) could play a role in the early prediction of the occurrence, severity, and mortality of HIE. Methods This case-control pilot study investigated consecutive neonates exposed to PA. The hUCB CD34+ cell count in mononuclear layers was assayed using a flow cytometer. Twenty full-term neonates with PA and 25 healthy neonates were enrolled in the study. Results The absolute CD34+ cell count ( p =0.02) and the relative CD34+ cell count (CD34+%) ( p + cell count ( p =0.04), CD34+% ( p + cell count was strongly correlated with CD34+% ( p +% was correlated with TLC ( p =0.02). Conclusions hUCB CD34+ cells can be used to predict the occurrence, severity, and mortality of neonatal HIE after PA.