CD71+ erythroid cells as a potential early biomarker for hemodynamic significant patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants

Introduction Hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) in preterm infants is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Early and accurate identification of infants at risk for PDA is critical for improving outcome. Perinatal inflammation is a known risk factor of PDA. CD71+ erythroid cells (CECs) are immature red blood cells with immunomodulatory roles and show variable abundance in preterm infants. We aimed to examine the proportion of CECs in preterm infants and investigate association with PDA. Methods In this prospective study, we evaluated the association between CEC levels and the development of hsPDA in a cohort of 108 preterm infants born before 37 weeks of gestation. CEC levels were quantified by flow cytometry within 12 hours of birth. The presence of hsPDA was assessed by echocardiography between days 3 and 7 after birth. Results CEC levels showed a significant inverse relationship with gestational age (CEC(%) = -0.4419 × Gestational Age + 18.7029, p