title: Serum ferritin in pregnancy.
abstract: Serum ferritin levels were measured in 200 consecutive pregnant women at their first antenatal visit; 64 (32%) were found to have levels below the normal range. The results were correlated with haemoglobin concentration, serum iron levels, gestation, parity, and social class. The results indicate that low iron stores occur with increasing frequency as gestation advances, that ferritin assay is a better indicator of iron status than serum iron and haemoglobin levels, and that all patients should be given iron supplements in pregnancy, irrespective of social class or parity.
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012923:Social Class
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron