Umbilical Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells for Hypoxic Neurologic Injury in Infants With Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)

Umbilical Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells for Hypoxic Neurologic Injury in Infants With Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)

The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of autologous umbilical cord blood (UCB) mononuclear cells to mitigate hypoxic neurologic injury among infants with high-risk congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of CDH between 20 and 36 weeks estimated gestational age (EGA)
• Only one of the following fetal criteria and one of the following postnatal criteria must be met for enrollment. Fetal criteria: an ultrasound (US)-obtained observed to expected lung to head ratio (o/e LHR) less than or equal to 35% or 2) a fetal magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)- obtained observed to expected total fetal lung volume (o/e TFLV) less than or equal to 35%. Postnatal criteria: 1) Cord blood gas (CBG) with potenital hydrogen (pH) <7.0, 2) Arterial blood gas (ABG) with pH <7.2 on 2 gasses within the first 24 hours, 3) Preductal oxygen saturation (O2 sat) <90% x 2 total hours (not necessarily consecutive) within the first 24 hours, or 4) Oxygenation Index (OI) >20 x 2 total hours (not necessarily consecutive) within the first 24 hours.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Genetic/chromosomal abnormality: Trisomy 21, Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13 or other, significant genetic abnormality. Microdeletions or other mild genetic abnormalities are not considered exclusionary.
• Severe/major cardiac anomaly: coarctation of the aorta, combined atrial and ventricular septal defects, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, tetralogy of fallot, double outlet right ventricle, atrioventricular canal defects, or other hemodynamically significant defects.
• Moderate/severe neurologic / intracranial abnormality: Grade III or IV intraparenchymal hemorrhage, space occupying mass or lesion, or clinically significant traumatic lesion such as a subdural or epidural hemorrhage.
• Prematurity <30 weeks estimated gestational age (EGA): Birth at 29 6/7 weeks or before
• Participation in an alternative prenatal intervention study: Fetoscopic Endotracheal Occlusion (FETO)
• Unwillingness / inability to return for follow-up evaluation and assessment