Iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy continues to be a clinical problem, which contributes to maternal and fetal morbidity. Iron store deficiency leads to iron deficient erythropoiesis and to negative iron balance when the iron supply is insufficient to maintain normal concentration of hemoglobin. The aim of this study was aimed to establish concentration of ferritin, transferrin and iron as a markers of iron deficiency in healthy women in reproductive age came for control examination to Institute of Mother and Child in Warsaw.
Material and methods: In serum of 108 healthy, multiparas in age up to 40 years from urban agglomerations, middle-class non-pregnant women concentration of iron, ferritin, transferrin and transferrin saturation were determined by commercially available kits (Hoffman-La Roche, Switzerland).
Results: Mean concentration of iron, ferritin and transferrin were among normal values. Low level of iron (below 49 microg/dl) was observed in serum of 12%, this of ferritin (below 20 ng/ml) in 22% and of transferrin (below 252 mg/dl) in 15% of studied women. Transferrin saturation lower than 15% was observed in 9 patients. The obtained values were age dependent. The lowest values of total iron were observed in the youngest group I (below 25 years old) and were accompanied with ferritin level below 20 ng/ml in 26% of women. Low ferritin values were also observed in serum of 22% patients of group II (25-35 years old) and only in 14% of women older than 35 years (group III). Saturation of transferrin lower than 15%, which indicated deficiency of iron for erythropoiesis, was observed in 26%, 13% and 19% patients of group I, II and III respectively.
Conclusions: Obtained results indicated that in population of studied women in reproductive age, subclinical iron deficiency in 20% and negative iron balance in 10% could be observed. Therefore, iron status, especially store ferritin, should be assessed very carefully as a component of medical care.