Comparison of age distribution of umbilical cord erythrocytes in preeclampsia versus uncomplicated pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the age distribution of umbilical cord (fetal) erythrocytes in preeclamptic women. METHODS: Prospective evaluation of density distribution of erythrocytes was performed using the density distribution of cells method. Ten consecutive patients having preeclampsia in the third trimester and ten matched controls were studied. Maternal blood samples were taken during the latent phase of labor. Umbilical cord samples were taken immediately after the umbilical cord was cut. An additional control group that consisted of nonpregnant women (n = 30) was determined from our previously published studies. RESULTS: The erythrocyte population of umbilical cord blood of preeclamptic women has a younger age distribution than the erythrocyte population of umbilical cord blood of women with a normal pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The shift in age distribution of erythrocytes in umbilical cord blood of preeclamptic women could be attributed to a shorter life span of erythrocytes compared with that of uncomplicated pregnancy.