Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the cord blood of premature neonates born to mothers with pregnancy-induced hypertension

Objectives: To estimate the cord blood levels of granulocyte colony-stimula ting factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (G M-CSF) in preterm infants and to study the relationship of these levels to pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and absolute neutrophil counts. Study design: G-CSF and GM-CSF levels in the cord blood of preterm neonates (n = 74) either with or without maternal PIH were estimated by enzyme-link ed immunosorbent assay. Results: Infants in the PIH group had lower white blood cell, absolute neut rophil, absolute lymphocyte, and monocyte counts. The levels of G-CSF in co rd blood were significantly lower in infants whose mothers had PIH (P = .04 ) and in infants with neutropenia (P = .01). G-CSF levels were positively c orrelated with both absolute neutrophil count (P =.02) and total white bloo d cell count (P = .01). GM-CSF was undetectable in all subjects. According to logistic regression with neutropenia as the dependent variable, only mat ernal PIH (P < .001), gestational age (P < .001), and G-CSF (P = .01) were independently related. Conclusion: In this study maternal PIH and low gestational age were signifi cantly associated with neutropenia in premature infants. Low G-CSF levels m ay contribute to the neutropenia that is commonly seen in infants born to m others with PIH.