Abstract
Serum concentration of ferritin was determined in 71 pregnant women (10.21 and 40 of 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester, respectively) and compared with that of 16 normal women. It decreased progressively with the course of pregnancy: 25.4±12.4 ng/ml, 12.3±6.5 ng/ml and 8.9±5.6 ng/ml during 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester. A positive correlation between serum ferritin and blood hemoglobin concentration was noted. From these data and a well-known fact that the serum ferritin concentration reflects iron stores in the body, it was suggested that the anemia during pregnancy may result from iron deficient state.
Therefore, serum ferritin concentration may be a useful parameter to diagnose latent anemia and to monitor iron replacement therapy during pregnancy.
