Related Experiment Videos
Comparison of tests for diagnosis of iron depletion in pregnancy
1Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, NY.
The serum ferritin level was used to diagnose iron depletion in 137 pregnant patients who came to an inner-city hospital outpatient clinic. Seventy-three patients (53.3%) had ferritin levels less than 20 micrograms/L, indicating iron depletion. The prevalence of iron depletion was 29% in the first trimester, 64% in the second trimester, and 71% in the third trimester (p less than 0.001). The sensitivities of serum iron (2.8%), transferrin saturation (12.5%), mean corpuscular volume (6.8%), and red cell distribution width (16.4%) were too low for screening or diagnosing iron depletion and deficiency. Serum ferritin level should be used to screen for and diagnose iron depletion and deficiency in pregnancy.
The serum ferritin level was used to diagnose iron depletion in 137 pregnant patients who came to an inner-city hospital outpatient clinic. Seventy-three patients (53.3%) had ferritin levels less than 20 micrograms/L, indicating iron depletion. The prevalence of iron depletion was 29% in the first trimester, 64% in the second trimester, and 71% in the third trimester (p less than 0.001). The sensitivities of serum iron (2.8%), transferrin saturation (12.5%), mean corpuscular volume (6.8%), and red cell distribution width (16.4%) were too low for screening or diagnosing iron depletion and deficiency. Serum ferritin level should be used to screen for and diagnose iron depletion and deficiency in pregnancy.