Cord blood transferrin receptors to assess fetal iron status.
OBJECTIVE
To study iron status at different gestational ages using cord blood serum transferrin receptors (STfRs).


METHODS
STfRs, iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity, haemoglobin, and reticulocytes were measured in 144 cord blood samples. The babies were divided into three groups according to gestation (26 very preterm (24-29 weeks); 50 preterm (30-36 weeks); 68 term (37-41 weeks)).


RESULTS
Serum iron, ferritin, and total iron binding capacity were highest at term, whereas reticulocytes were highest in the very preterm. STfR levels were not influenced by gestation. Haemoglobin (r = 0.46; p < 0.0001) and reticulocytes (r = 0.42; p < 0.0001) were the only indices that independently correlated with STfR levels.


CONCLUSIONS
STfR levels in cord blood are not directly influenced by gestation and probably reflect the iron requirements of the fetus for erythropoiesis.
Sweet
D G
DG
Royal Maternity Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BB, Northern Ireland. dsweet@dnet.co.uk
Savage
G A
GA
Tubman
R
R
Lappin
T R
TR
Halliday
H L
HL
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000502:physiology; D005293:Ferritins / Q000032:analysis; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000502:physiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D006454:Hemoglobins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron