Serum determination of the level of iron, ferritin and transferrin in pregnant patients and their relation to preterm delivery

ABSTRACT

Seventy-five women presenting with preterm labor whose gestational age ranged from 26 to less than 37 weeks were chosen as the study group. Another 75 women were used as a control group [25 women whose gestational age ranged from 38 to 40 weeks presenting in labor and the other 50 women with gestational ages ranged from 27 to 37 weeks attending the antenatal clinic and were not in labor]. 5 ml venous bloods were withdrawn from the anti-cubital vein from each woman, 2 ml for hemoglobin and 3 ml for serum assay of iron, ferritin and transferring determinations. The results revealed that the concentration of serum ferritin was higher in preterm group and the differences were statistically significant. However, the differences between concentrations of serum iron and serum transferrin among these groups have no significance. In conclusion, the differences of serum iron and transferrin has no significant value in cases of preterm labor, hut the difference in serum ferritin has a good significant value in cases of preterm labor, thus elevation of serum ferritin in the second trimester can be used a predictor of early spontaneous preterm labor