Abstract
Aim: To investigate the effects of delayed cord clamping (DCC) on peripheral hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and hematological parameters in premature infants (<32 weeks) during the neonatal period.
Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, and controlled, single-center study. Prior to delivery, 21 infants were randomly assigned to immediate cord clamping (ICC) at 5–10 s and 21 infants to DCC at 30–45 s. One milliliter blood sample was taken in the first 30 min of life. HPCs were measured by three-color flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies.
Results: There were no significant differences between groups in either maternal or neonatal demographics. All HPC counts were higher in the ICC group, but the difference was not significant. CD34+ cell counts were 45.3±36.6/μL in the ICC and 33.2±26.6/μL in the DCC group (P=0.33); multi-potent progenitor cell counts were 43.2±35/μL in the ICC and 31.1±26.6/μL in the DCC group (P=0.28); and hematopoietic stem cell counts were 2.1±2.1/μL in the ICC and 2.1±3.1/μL in the DCC group (P=0.66).
Conclusion: Contrary to our expectation, all HPC counts were lower in the DCC group.
©2011 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
