Iron status in anemic pregnant women.

AIM: A descriptive study at a tertiary care center was carried out to assess the prevalence of iron status in anemic pregnant women and to determine the appropriate iron supplement.

METHODS

Eligible subjects were pregnant women with a hemoglobin concentration <11 g/dL. Pregnant women who received antenatal vitamin and/or iron supplements before blood testing and women with an underlying chronic disease were excluded. Hemoglobinopathy was defined by hemoglobin typing other than HbA2A, percentage of HbA2 >4%, and HbF >1.1%. We diagnosed iron deficiency and iron depletion if their serum ferritin were <12 and 20 ng/mL, respectively, whereas anemia from undetermined causes was defined by hemoglobin typing, namely: A2A, HbA2 <4% and HbF <1.1%, and serum ferritin >20 ng/mL.

RESULTS

Among the 137 anemic pregnant women recruited, 67 (49.8%) had HbA2A, 47(34.3%) HbEA, 15 (10.9%) HbEE, 3 (2.2%) HbCSA2A, 2 (1.5%) HbCSEA, 1 (0.7%) HbCSA2A Bart's, 1 (0.7%) HbEA Bart's, and 1 (0.7%) beta-thalassemia. Among the 67 women with normal hemoglobin (HbA2A), 14 (20.9%) had iron deficiency, and 12 (17.9%) iron depletion. Among the 70 women with hemoglobinopathy, 6 (8.6%) had iron deficiency, and 10 (14.3%) iron depletion.

CONCLUSIONS

Anemic pregnant women with hemoglobinopathy could also be iron deficient so will need iron supplementation, as other pregnant women do, and some iron replacement therapy.