THE EFFECTS OF THE MODE OF DELIVERY ON THE LYMPHOCYTE COMPOSITION OF A PLACENTAL CORD-BLOOD GRAFT

The establishment of placental/cord blood as a source of clinically tr ansplantable stem cells has been followed by the creation of a growing number of programs involved in placental/cord blood banking and stora ge, Placentae/umbilical cords delivered either vaginally or through el ective cesarean section following an uncomplicated term pregnancy are considered acceptable as the source of a recoverable placental/cord bl ood unit, The effects of the mode of delivery on the lymphocyte compos ition of the graft have, however, not been addressed, We demonstrate s ignificant differences in the number of lymphocytes expressing CD3, CD 4, or CD56 (mature NK) cells when units obtained either following a va ginal delivery or through cesarean section are compared. We encourage the data obtained in the process of placental/cord blood transplantati on to be critically evaluated with respect also to the mode of deliver y.