[Relationship between cervicovaginal ferritin levels in 22-26 weeks of pregnant women with spontaneous preterm delivery]

Low serum ferritin levels correlate with low iron stores, whereas high levels are associated with an acute-phase reaction. Our objective was to determine whether elevated levels of ferritin in the genital tract can be a potential marker to identify patients at risk for spontaneous preterm delivery. We performed a nested case-control study involving 28 women who had spontaneous preterm delivery. 28 term control subjects mathched for parity, age, education, previous history of PTL and vaginal bleeding selected from 275 women enrolled in the preterm prediction study of the prenatal care unit at Imam Hospital. Cervical ferritin was measured using radoimmunoassay. Cervical ferritin levels were significantly higher in women who subsequently had spontaneous early preterm delivery [mean +/- SD: 54.5 +/- 5 ng/ml VS 36.39 +/- 1.59 in control, P=0.001]. Elevated cervical ferritin levels in 22=24 weeks of gestation in asymptomatic women are associated with subsequent spontaneous preterm birth. Cervical ferritin, alone or in combination with other potential markers, maybe a useful tool to help identify high risk women who would potentially benefit from such prospective intervention. Until the identification of such clinical interventions in a clinical trial, the use of cervical ferritin for the prediction of preterm delivery remains experimental

[ comparison between plasma lipids concentration in preeclamptic and normotensive women]

Pregnancy may cause hypertension in normotensive women or aggrevate preexisting hypertention. The incidence of Preeclamsia is 5-10%, and is an important contributor to maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. According to many predisposing factors in pathophysiology of preeclampsia, the role of lipid preoxides, is also important. In this study attempts are made to show the relationship between inceasing of plasma lipids and hypertension in pregnancy. This is a case-control study on pregnant women reffering to Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital, From Oct. 2003 to Oct. 2004. Case group include 100 preeclamptic pregnant women and for control group 100 normotensive pregnant women were recruired. [preeclamsia : BP >/= 140 /90 mmHg, or Proteinuria > +10 >/= 300 mg/dL in urine 24 h]. Total TG, cholestrol, HDL and LDL were measured by enzymatic methods. Statistical analysis were performed using T-Test and Pearson's method. The most important results are as follows: The mean of TG in case group was 45% more than that of the control group [P<0.001, sig]. The mean of cholestrol level in case group was 15% more than control group [P<0.01, sig]. The mean of LDL in case group is 5% more than that of the control group [NS]. As the levels of plasma lipids in preeclamptic women were more than normotensive women; measuring of Plasma lipids also can be a marker for predisposing to Preeclampsia