Deformability of the erythrocytes in newborn of mothers with reduced erythrocyte deformability in pre-eclampsia

Introduction: Red Blood Cell (RBC)-deformability is one of the factors determining the microcirculation. Women with preeclampsia show a reduced RBC-deformability as one risk factor for intrauterine malnutrition of the fetus. The reasons for a reduced RBC-deformability are not known. Aim of the study is to evaluate whether the RBC of the newborn out of these pregnancies is also reduced to allocate the "rigidifying factor" to the fetal or maternal compartment. Materials and Methods: 27 pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancy and their newborn as well as 15 women with preeclampsia and their newborn are included into this study. Venous blood was redrawn immediately after delivery. RBC-deformability was measured with the laserdiffractoscope. Results: Women with preeclampsia show a reduced RBC deformability being consistent with former studies. The newborn show no different RBC flexibility as compared to the newborn from uncomplicated pregnancies. Conclusion: The factor reducing RBC deformability in preeclampsia is allocated to the maternal compartment and is not able to pass the placenta.