Abstract
Umbilical cord blood (UCB) which is useful in supportive and definitive management of inherited and acquired disorders is usually discarded in our environment. We sought to establish reference values for some haematological parameters of UCB in Makurdi, Nigeria to assist clinicians better interpret results of haematological parameters of UCB. This was a prospective quantitative study that involved analyzing UCB of qualified women to determine its complete blood count, fetal haemoglobin concentration, clotting profile and fibrinogen concentration. Reference ranges of these parameters were thereafter calculated using normal distribution method. The effects of maternal and fetal factors on these parameters were assessed using the Student t-test and ANOVA. The mean total white blood count (TWBC) was 12.3±3.7 x 109/L. Female births had significantly higher TWBC than male births (13.2 ± 3.3 x 109/L vs 11.0 ± 3.8 x 109/L, p=0.003). Babies that weighed 3.0-3.5kg also had significantly higher TWBC (18.9x109L) than those that weighed 2.4-2.9kg (8.7x109/L) p=0.010.Female births had significantly higher haemoglobin concentration (Hb) (13.9g/dl) than male births (11.9g/dl) p=0.001. Similarly, older women aged 32-41 years had significantly higher Hb (13.4g/dl) than those aged 18-24 years (11.6g/dl) p=0.002. Also, women that had more than two children had higher Hb than those who had one or two, (14.7g/dl vs 12.3g/dl) p=0.030. Babies that weighed 3.0-3.5kg at birth also had significantly higher Hb (16.2g/dl) than babies that weighed 2.4-2.9kg (12.3g/dl), p=0.003.The reference values of the haematological parameters of cord blood in our study were similar to what was reported from other developing countries. This study has provided data on haematological parameters of UCB for clinical use in our environment and we recommend routine UCB analysis in order to aid early detection of some inherited and congenital disorder.
Highlights
Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is a rich source of haemopoietic stem cells[1] and has been used for stem cell transplantation in the treatment of disorders like leukaemias, lymphomas and some non-haematological conditions.[2]
Following the discovery that the numbers of haemopoietic stem cells (HPC) in single UCB collections were within the range associated with successful bone marrow transplant (BMT), the first umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) was performed in France in 1988 in a patient who was affected by Fanconi's anaemia.[3]
Has been performed on patients with malignant and non- malignant disorders.4Some of the benefits of UCBT include the fact that the haemopoietic stem cells in UCB have an extensive proliferative capacity that exceeded that of bone marrow (BM) HPC.[5]
Summary
Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is a rich source of haemopoietic stem cells[1] and has been used for stem cell transplantation in the treatment of disorders like leukaemias, lymphomas and some non-haematological conditions.[2]. Cord blood has been used as an alternative to blood transfusion especially in children.[6] In this regard, it can become a major. Though there are many researches and publications on the efficacy and safety of umbilical cord blood for haematopoietic transplantation and transfusion, very little is published of reference ranges of its haematological values.[9] In Nigeria, there are even fewer data on haematological properties of cord blood. We aim to establish the reference values for some haematological parameters of cord blood and the effects of maternal and fetal factors on these parameters in Makurdi, Nigeria in order to assist clinicians especially Neonatologist in making decision on the suitability of cord blood for either transplantation or transfusion and detection of some inherited and congenital disorders like sickle cell disorders, thalassaemias, congenital thrombocytopenias etc
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