Transferrin in maternal and cord blood: the relationship with birthweight

The relationship between the serum level of maternal transferrin in late pregnancy and the birthweight of the infant was investigated. Mothers with low levels of serum transferrin may give birth to low-birthweight babies, but this was not a general phenomenon. In very-low-birthweight infants, the birthweight correlated with the level of maternal transferrin. It is concluded that the maternal serum transferrin level does not reflect the maturity of the fetus or the birthweight of term neonates.