Association of CD34+ and CD90+ Stem Cells of Cord Blood with Neonatal Factors: A Cross-sectional Study.

Objective: To characterize the primitive stem cell content of cord blood with regard to neonatal parameters.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, CD34+ and CD90+ cells content were enumerated by flow-cytometry method. Their associations with various neonatal parameters like birth weight, gender, gestational age and mode of delivery were analyzed by univariate analysis. Multivariable linear regression model was then developed to further explain the effect of neonatal factors on these primitive cell counts.

Results: From a total of 106 recruited subjects, gender of the neonate did not have any influence on the expression of these proteins (CD34 and CD90) of cord blood stem cells or progenitors. Multi variable linear regression analysis using CD34+ and CD90+ cell counts as dependent variables revealed that birth weight and the mode of delivery were significant predictors of these cell counts.

Conclusions: The present study suggests that birth weight and mode of delivery of the neonates influences cord blood stem cell yield.