[Heme synthesis and iron status in pregnancy]

In 130 pregnant women (41 without complications, 40 with prematurity, 49 with EPH-Gestosis) Serumferritin, ferrochelatase (FCH), delta-aminolaevulinic-aciddehydratase (D-ALA-D), porphobilinogendeaminase (PBG-D) as well as hematologic routine parameters were measured. Regarding serumferritin, both uncomplicated and cases with pathologic conditions revealed a significant decrease in group II (28th week of pregnancy) as compared to group I (12th to 28th week of pregnancy). Women with EPH-Gestosis showed the lowest values. Activities of hemesynthesizing enzymes did not show any significant differences, neither between the two groups nor between uncomplicated and pathologic cases. Compared to healthy, non pregnant women; in pregnant women we found a significant increase in D-ALA-D and PBG-D, but a significant decrease in FCH. Enzyme pattern in pregnancy reveals an increased synthesis of porphobilinogen and an increased conversion of porphobilinogen to porphyrin. The low activity of FCH we measured in our study could be a reason for the elevation of free protoporphyrin in the erythrocytes.