SERUM TRANSFERRIN RECEPTORS AS MARKER FOR DIAGNOSTIC OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA IN PREGNANCY (ALGERIA)

Aims: Current markers of iron deficiency tend to be less reliable in pregnancy. Our aim was to study the usefulness of soluble serum transferrin receptor “sTfR” in the diagnosis of iron deficiency during early and late gestation.

Patients and Method: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study was conducted in the Hospital Establishment Specializing in Gynecology Obstetrics of Sidi Bel Abbes during December 2014-january 2015. Total samples were 192 pregnant women.

sTfR levels in comparison with concentrations of serum ferritin and hemoglobin in blood collected around gestationnel weeks 15 and 37 were compared.

Results: On the basis of ferritin, we find a common iron deficiency in our population. Indeed, ferritin <20 g/l in 50% of women in labor and 18% of them have a ferritin >12 mcg/l. In addition, 72% of patients have sTfR > 0.87 ug / ml standard established according to age and sex and 52% of sTfR>2.81 ug/ml reference standard kit of age or sex. Ferritin and sTfR are negatively correlated (R= -0.62). Although this low correlation is significant (p<0.001). In patients whose hemoglobin levels between 10 and 11 g / dl (40% of our population), sTfR are frequently high (0.735 to 3.75 ug / ml) and low ferritin (6,902 to 52.350 mg / l).

Conclusion: sTfR seems to be a specific and sensitive marker of iron deficiency in pregnancy and may have advantages over serum ferritin and hemoglobin.