Cord blood erythropoietin and cord blood nucleated red blood cells for prediction of adverse neonatal outcome associated with maternal obesity in term pregnancy: prospective cohort study

Abstract

Objective: To determine the adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with maternal pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity and we measure cord blood erythropoietin and NRBC count as indices of hypoxia and predictors of neonatal outcome.

Study design: This prospective cohort study was done in Minia University Hospital, carried out from May 2015 to April 2016. Two hundred and seventy full-term neonates born to mothers of various body mass indices were included. Excluded were neonates with major factors known to be associated with a potential increase in fetal erythropoiesis. Pre-pregnancy maternal BMI was calculated from maternally reported weight and height. Cord blood erythropoietin and nucleated red blood cells were measured.

Results: There is a significant increase of various adverse pregnancy outcomes as cesarean section. Postpartum hemorrhage and macrosomia with the increase of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI. Significant positive correlations between cord blood erythropoietin and nucleated red blood cells with maternal BMI.

Conclusion: The increase in the maternal pre-pregnancy BMI is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. Cord blood erythropoietin and nucleated red blood cells can predict the poor neonatal outcome.

Keywords:

• Maternal obesity
• nucleated red blood cells
• erythropoietin

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.