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Evaluation of the Relationship Between Serum and Urine Ferritin Level of Low Birth Weight Infants
Hassan Bazmamoun1, Soheila Narimani2, Maryam Shokouhi3
1Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
Insights
Urinary ferritin levels can effectively screen for iron deficiency in low birth weight infants, offering a noninvasive alternative to serum ferritin tests. This method aids in diagnosing potential long-term neurological issues early.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Iron deficiency in utero or infancy can lead to lasting neurological and behavioral issues.
- Serum ferritin measurement is a standard diagnostic tool for iron deficiency.
- Current methods require substantial blood draws, posing challenges for low birth weight infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between serum and urinary ferritin levels.
- To explore urinary ferritin as a potential noninvasive biomarker for iron status in low birth weight infants.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 76 low birth weight infants (<2500 g).
- Collected 1.5 mL blood for serum ferritin and 1 mL urine for urinary ferritin.
- Analyzed data using SPSS, with a significance level of p < 0.05.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was found between serum and urinary ferritin levels.
- Both serum and urinary ferritin levels correlated significantly with birth weight and gestational age.
- Higher birth weight and gestational age were associated with increased ferritin levels.
Conclusions:
- Urinary ferritin measurement is a viable noninvasive method for iron deficiency screening in low birth weight infants.
- This approach can replace serum ferritin testing, reducing the need for invasive procedures.
- Early iron deficiency screening can help prevent developmental disorders.
Background & Objective:
Iron deficiency before birth or in infancy can cause long-term behavioral and neurological disorders. Measuring serum ferritin is an effective way to diagnose iron deficiency but requires significant blood volume from a low birth weight infant. Therefore, the present study was performed to investigate the relationship between serum and urinary ferritin levels in low birth weight infants.
Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, 76 infants weighing less than 2500 g were studied. To measure serum ferritin level, 1.5 mL of blood and to measure urinary ferritin level, at least 1 mL of urine was collected from each infant. Then the results were compared. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 16, and the significance level was considered less than 0.05.
Results:
Out of 76 neonates studied, 51.3% were boys, and 80.3% were premature infants. The mean birth weight of infants was 2056.31±318.74 g, and the mean serum and urinary ferritin levels were 134.77±72.35 and 85.55±70.97 ng, respectively. There was a statistically significant relationship between serum and urinary ferritin levels. Also, serum ferritin and urinary ferritin levels had a statistically significant relationship with birth weight and gestational age. The higher the birth weight as well as the age at birth, the higher the serum ferritin and urinary ferritin.
Conclusion:
According to the findings of this study, measurement of urinary ferritin level can be used as a noninvasive tool for iron deficiency screening in low birth weight infants instead of serum ferritin level.
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