title: Comparison of tests for diagnosis of iron depletion in pregnancy.
abstract: The serum ferritin level was used to diagnose iron depletion in 137 pregnant patients who came to an inner-city hospital outpatient clinic. Seventy-three patients (53.3%) had ferritin levels less than 20 micrograms/L, indicating iron depletion. The prevalence of iron depletion was 29% in the first trimester, 64% in the second trimester, and 71% in the third trimester (p less than 0.001). The sensitivities of serum iron (2.8%), transferrin saturation (12.5%), mean corpuscular volume (6.8%), and red cell distribution width (16.4%) were too low for screening or diagnosing iron depletion and deficiency. Serum ferritin level should be used to screen for and diagnose iron depletion and deficiency in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, NY.
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004911:Erythrocyte Volume; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron