Nucleated Red Blood Cell in Premature Rupture of Membranes

Background & Objective: Premature Rupture of Membranes (PROM) refers to the rupture of the amniotic sac before the spontaneous onset of labor after the ۳۷th week of gestation. An increase in Nucleated Red Blood Cells (NRBCs) has been observed in infants born following prolonged PROM. This study was conducted with aim to investigate the relationship between the duration of PROM and the NRBC count in the umbilical cord blood of term neonates. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on term neonates born via cesarean section or vaginal delivery at Al-Zahra Educational and Medical Center in Rasht. Within the first hour after birth, ۵ mL of umbilical vein blood was collected to measure the NRBC count per ۱۰۰ White Blood Cells (WBCs) and the absolute NRBC count. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS software (version ۲۲). P<۰.۰۵ was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of ۴۵ mothers and their infants were included in the study. The mean maternal age was ۲۹.۲۶±۶.۶۷ years, the mean duration of PROM was ۴.۶۹±۰.۵ hours, and the mean NRBC percentage was ۱.۳۵±۲.۱۲%. No significant association was found between the duration of PROM and NRBC count (P=۰.۴۵۱). Conclusion: The present study did not show a significant association between the duration of PROM and the percentage of NRBC in the cord blood of term infants born at our center. Therefore, NRBC counts may not serve as a reliable clinical marker for PROM duration in low-risk term pregnancies.

Keywords:

PROM , Premature rupture of membranes , Newborn , Nucleated red blood cell count