Granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor levels in cord blood and neonatal peripheral blood

We measured the granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) levels in cord blood and peripheral blood obtained from full‐term or pre‐term infants during the first 3 days of birth. The mean G‐CSF level among cord blood (17.2pg/mL) was similar to that of peripheral blood on day 0 (18.3 pg/mL) and day 1 (13.6 pg/mL), while that of peripheral blood on day 0 was significantly higher than on day 2 (10.9 pg/mL) and day 3 (8.8 pg/mL; both P < 0.05). There was no correlation between neutrophil counts and G‐CSF levels. No difference was found in neutrophil counts or G‐CSF levels between infants who weighed more or less than 2500 g at birth. These results suggest that the neonatal neutrophil count depends on regulatory factors other than G‐CSF. 1995 Japan Pediatric Society