Iron binding capacity and transferrin saturation in pregnancy

ABSTRACT

To find changes in the iron status in relation to total iron binding capacity and% saturation of transferrin in pregnant women. Design: Comparative study of haemoglobin, serum iron, serum iron binding capacity [TIBC] and saturation of transferrin in 1st, llnd and lllrd trimester of pregnancy with age matched non-pregnant women. Setting: Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Subjects: Ninety pregnant women, at various stages of pregnancy, all having haemoglobin values below 12 g%, were selected. Result: Values of Hb were found to be significantly lower as compared to the control in all the trimesters of pregnancy. Serum iron and% saturation of iron showed a significant decrease; while total iron binding capacity and unsaturated iron binding capacity showed a significant [P<0.001] increase in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy as comapred to matched control. Total serum iron binding capacity and% iron saturation of transferrin are more sensitive indices of iron stores of an iron deficient pregnant mother at an earlier date, thus preventing anaemia