Maternal Peripheral Blood CD34+cells for Prediction of Fetal Kidney Malformations: Results from a Case-Control Analysis

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the relation between CD34+ cells count in maternal blood and potential development of fetal congenital renal abnormalities. Materials and methods We enrolled 16 women that gave birth to newborns carrying congenital renal malformations over a 3-year period and 48 women with uncomplicated pregnancies (controls) in a 1:3 ratio (three controls per case). Results CD34+ cells in the maternal peripheral blood were significantly lower in the group of women who gave birth to newborns carrying congenital renal malformations compared to the controls (p < .0001). Conclusions CD34+ cells in maternal blood could be validated as a potential marker to predict the development of possible kidney malformations.