Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the cord blood of premature neonates born to mothers with pregnancy-induced hypertension

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the cord blood levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in preterm infants and to study the relationship of these levels to pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and absolute neutrophil counts. Study design: G-CSF and GM-CSF levels in the cord blood of preterm neonates (n = 74) either with or without maternal PIH were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Infants in the PIH group had lower white blood cell, absolute neutrophil, absolute lymphocyte, and monocyte counts. The levels of G-CSF in cord blood were significantly lower in infants whose mothers had PIH (P = .04) and in infants with neutropenia (P = .01). G-CSF levels were positively correlated with both absolute neutrophil count (P = .02) and total white blood cell count (P = .01). GM-CSF was undetectable in all subjects. According to logistic regression with neutropenia as the dependent variable, only maternal PIH (P < .001), gestational age (P < .001), and G-CSF (P = .01) were independently related. Conclusion: In this study maternal PIH and low gestational age were significantly associated with neutropenia in premature infants. Low G-CSF levels may contribute to the neutropenia that is commonly seen in infants born to mothers with PIH. (J Pediatr 1999;135:56-9)