Increased numbers of total nucleated and CD34+ cells in blood group O cord blood: an analysis of neonatal innate factors in the Korean population

Abstract

Background: We analyzed neonatal factors that could affect hematopoietic variables of cord blood (CB) donated from Korean neonates.

Study design and methods: The numbers of total nucleated cells (TNCs), CD34+ cells, and CD34+ cells/TNCs of CB in neonates were compared according to sex, gestational age, birth weight, birth weight centile for gestational age, and ABO blood group.

Results: With 11,098 CB units analyzed, blood group O CB showed an increased number of TNCs, CD34+ cells, and CD34+ cells/TNCs compared with other blood groups. Although TNC counts were lower in males, no difference in the number of CD34+ cells was demonstrated because the number of CD34+ cells/TNCs was higher in males. An increase in the gestational age resulted in an increase in the number of TNCs and decreases in the number of CD34+ cells and CD34+ cells/TNCs. The numbers of TNCs, CD34+ cells, and CD34+ cells/TNCs increased according to increased birth weight centile as well as birth weight.

Conclusion: CB with blood group O has unique hematologic variables in this large-scale analysis of Korean neonates, although the impact on the storage policies of CB banks or the clinical outcome of transplantation remains to be determined.