Assessment of CD34+ Cells and Total Nucleated Cells in Umbilical Cord Blood in a Tertiary Hospital South-south, Nigeria

Aim: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) contains sufficient number of haematopoietic stem cell and progenitor cells that can be used for autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation in children and adolescents. Our study assessed the CD34+ cells and total nucleated cells in umbilical cord blood stem cells in a tertiary institution in Nigeria.

Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City. Informed consent for UCB collection was obtained from healthy mothers with uncomplicated pregnancies, receiving care at the Department of Obstetrics between July and September, 2016.

Methodology: A total of forty umbilical cord bloods samples were collected from the placenta umbilical cord after delivery. CD34+ cells were enumerated using flow cytometer while haematology analyzer was used to assess total nucleated cell (TNC) count. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.

Results: CD 34+ cells count ranged between 2.0 - 6.99 x 104cells/ml with a mean value of 3.89 ± 1.48 x 104cells/ml (Recommended minimum value 2x105/kg). Mean value of TNC was 11.14 ± 4.47 x 106 cells/ml with a range of 4.80-21.10 x106 cells/ml (Recommended minimum value 2x 107 /kg). We observed a positive correlation between CD34+ cells and TNC count (r = 0.760, p=0.000). In addition, maternal parity showed a significant inverse relationship with TNC and CD34+ cells.

Conclusion: CD34+cells and TNC count of UCB obtained from placentae of babies delivered at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital are within the acceptable values for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This is in keeping with recommendations by the World Marrow Donor Association, which stated that a minimum of 2 x107 TNC/kg or 2 x105 CD34+ cells/kg of body weight of recipient.