title: [Effects of iron-deficiency anemia on placenta and birth weight].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación Médica en Epidemiología Clínica, Hospital de Ginecología y Obstetricia No. 15, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México.
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levario-Carrillo
authors.forename: Margarito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: María Eugenia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Vásquez
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chávez
authors.forename: Celina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corral
mesh_terms: 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
vernacular_title: Efectos de la anemia por deficiencia de hierro sobre la placenta y el peso al nacer.