Evaluating correlation between NRBC count and fetal distress

Abstract Background: Nucleated red blood cells (NRBC) are occasionally observed in blood of newborns and some recent studies have reported of a relationship between NRBC count and fetal distress and hypoxia. Objective: To investigate the correlation between NRBC count and fetal distress. Methods: This was a case-control study conducted at Kosar medical centre in Qazvin, Iran. During a 6-month period in 2005, fifty women of unifetal pregnancy at third trimester of their gestation were chosen and the NRBC counts of their newborns who suffered fetal distress (case group) were evaluated. The control group composed of 100 women at their third trimester of pregnancy whose fetuses showed no sign of any distress. Data were analyzed using X2 and t test. Findings: The mean NRBC count in fetal distress group was 2406.6±2470.7 and in control group 673.43±709.9. Statistically, increased NRBC count in fetal distress group was found to be significant (p=0.000). Conclusion: NRBC count in fetal distress group was significantly increased hence it could be used as a marker to evaluate the fetal distress and hypoxia in infants.