Cord Blood Cellular Parameters and Insulin-like Growth Factor Axis Proteins in Appropriate and Small for Gestational Age Neonates

Small for gestational age (SGA) neonates have an increased risk of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and glucose intolerance in adult life. Understanding the factors that can increase the risk of SGA and complications might help with management. Hence, we quantified the cellular parameters, random blood sugar (RBS), and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-axis proteins in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) ( n = 40) and SGA ( n = 20) neonates cord blood samples. Cord blood cell parameters and RBS were measured using an automated analyzer; insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) proteins were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Mean % hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), packed cell volume (PCV), MCH concentration (MCHC), white blood cells (WBC), basophils, neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, and RBS did not alter between AGA and SGA, except an increased red blood cells (RBC) ( P = .034) and platelet ( P = .025), and decreased eosinophils ( P = .037). The cord blood plasma IGF1 did not differ ( P = .79), and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) was significantly higher ( P = .04) in SGA. Overall, the RBC, platelets and IGFBP2 proteins were increased, and eosinophils were reduced in SGA neonates.