Which clinical factor may significantly decrease neutrophil counts in newborns?

• A. Meconium aspiration syndrome
• B. Maternal hypertension
• C. Pneumothorax
• D. Neonatal sepsis

Answer: (B)

Maternal hypertension can cause placental insufficiency, leading to reduced oxygen and nutrient delivery to the fetus. This chronic fetal hypoxia and fetal stress can blunt bone marrow activity and lower the newborn’s neutrophil production and release, resulting in neutropenia at birth. While infection-related conditions can alter white counts, the strongest, most consistent link among the options is the in utero environment created by maternal hypertension; the other factors are less reliably associated with significant neonatal neutropenia.