Background: Preterm birth is the leading cause of newborn deaths and also the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age. There is wide spread suspicion that subclinical infection is a common accompaniment and cause of preterm labour. Ferritin is an acute phase reactant and it increases during inflammation.This study aims to determine whether serum ferritin levels which may be raised in the setting of any infective process could be used as a marker of spontaneous preterm labour or PPROM (Preterm premature rupture of membranes).
Aim: To determine whether serum ferritin levels, which may be raised in the setting of any infective process, could be used as a marker of spontaneous preterm labour or PPROM.
Study setting: Department of Obstetrics and Department of Biochemistry.
Study design: Descriptive comparative design.
Materials and methods: The study involved 3 groups. 50 patients of PPROM, 50 patients of spontaneous preterm labour and 50 pregnant women matching with haemoglobin and same gestational age Serum ferritin were analysed in all the 3 groups.
Statistical analysis: Significance of difference in the means of serum ferritin levels between the pregnant women (preterm) in the 3 groups were found out using ANOVA and also using a post hoc test (Tukey test). A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: There was a significant increase in serum ferritin in PPROM cases as compared to the control group. But no significant increase in spontaneous preterm labour cases as compared to the control group.
Conclusion: Serum ferittin can be used as a marker of PPROM but cannot be used as a marker for spontaneous preterm labour. A cut off value of 35.5 mg/l of serum ferritin may be used for predicting PPROM cases.
Keywords: Infant death; Infection; Premature birth.