[Effects of iron-deficiency anemia on placenta and birth weight].
OBJECTIVE
To determine placenta alterations in iron deficiency anemia cases and the effect of this condition on birthweight.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty three women with term-pregnancy and their newborns were included. Patients with iron deficiency anemia were those with an hemoglobin of less than 11.0 g/dL and serum ferritin below 12 micrograms/L. Outcome variables were: placenta weight, placenta weight/newborn weight ratio, macroscopic and microscopic alterations on placenta, weight and height of the newborn.


RESULTS
The frequency of iron deficiency anemia was determined in 26 patients, 17%. The placenta weight in the group of women with a diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia was 558 +/- 105 g and in the group of women without this diagnosis 527 +/- 107 g (p = 0.18). Placenta weight/newborn weight ratio was higher in the anemia group patients (p = 0.04). The most frequent microscopic lesions observed were intervillous thrombosis, infarcts and fibrosis. The birthweight and length of newborn was similar in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
A trend towards an increase in placenta weight and in the placenta weight/newborn weight ratio in patients fulfilling the anemia criteria was observed, but a significant effect on the weight and height of the newborn was not determined, suggesting that the changes present in the placenta would be enough to ensure a fetal growth.
Levario-Carrillo
Margarita
M
Unidad de Investigación Médica en Epidemiología Clínica, Hospital de Ginecología y Obstetricia No. 15, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México.
Hernández
Margarito
M
Vásquez
María Eugenia
ME
Chávez
Dora
D
Sánchez
Celina
C
Corral
Martha
M
D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000473:pathology; D001724:Birth Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000473:pathology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
Efectos de la anemia por deficiencia de hierro sobre la placenta y el peso al nacer.