Serum ferritin level as a marker of preterm labor

• Published in: International journal of gynecology and obstetrics Vol. 71; no. 2; pp. 107 - 111
• Main Authors: Saha, C.K, Jain, V, Gupta, I, Varma, N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01-11-2000; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Case-Control Studies; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Female; Ferritins - blood; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture - blood; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture - diagnosis; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Medical sciences; Obstetric Labor, Premature - blood; Obstetric Labor, Premature - diagnosis; Pregnancy; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Prenatal Diagnosis; Preterm labor; Preterm premature rupture of membranes; Serum ferritin; Preterm premature rupture of membranes; Preterm labor; Serum ferritin; Human; Statistical analysis; Pregnancy disorders; Ferritin; Premature rupture of membrane; Premature delivery; Biological marker; Blood plasma; Infection; Prenatal; Mother; Predictive value; Delivery disorders; Female; Diagnosis
• ISSN: 0020-7292; 1879-3479
• DOI: 10.1016/S0020-7292(00)00260-5

Objective: To compare the serum ferritin levels in women with preterm labor (PTL) or preterm premature rupture of membranes with those in normal gravid women.
Method: The study group consisted of 50 consecutive subjects with preterm labor and 49 subjects with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PROM). The control group consisted of 50 subjects matched with the study group for hemoglobin (Hb) and gestation who did not have PTL or preterm PROM. Serum ferritin levels were assayed in both the groups.
Results: Mean serum ferritin levels in patients with preterm labor and preterm premature rupture of membranes were 23.24±12.13 ng/ml and 29.44±28.41 ng/ml, respectively. The mean serum ferritin in control subjects was 8.69±3.7 ng/ml. The difference was evaluated by Student’s
t-test and was found to be statistically significant.
Conclusion: The serum ferritin level is significantly raised in pregnant women with preterm labor and preterm PROM.