title: Serum transferrin receptor for the detection of iron deficiency in pregnancy.
abstract: Measurements of circulating transferrin receptor provide a sensitive quantitative index of tissue iron deficiency in otherwise healthy subjects. This investigation was undertaken to examine the diagnostic utility of this new iron index in pregnancy. A battery of iron-related measurements, including serum transferrin receptor concentrations, was performed on 176 women in third-trimester pregnancy who were attending a university prenatal clinic. The mean receptor concentration of 5.96 +/- 2.37 mg/L (+/- 1 SD) did not differ significantly from concentrations in nonpregnant individuals and the frequency distributions were likewise comparable. Elevations in serum receptor greater than 8.5 mg/L occurred only in women with depleted iron stores defined by serum ferritin concentrations. Abnormal concentrations were found in 11 of 13 women with overt iron-deficiency anemia. Our findings indicate that serum receptor concentrations are not influenced by pregnancy per se and are a sensitive index of iron deficiency. By combining serum receptor and serum ferritin measurements, the entire spectrum of iron status in pregnancy can be assessed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66103.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Carriaga
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Skikne
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Finley
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cutler
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011990:Receptors, Transferrin