title: Can serum ferritin, vitamin B(12) and folic acid levels affect serum screening tests during pregnancy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relation of serum folate, vitamin B(12) and ferritin levels to 1st and 2nd trimester serum screening markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fetal crown-rump length (CRL), nuchal translucency (NT), and first and second trimester serum screening tests of 228 pregnant women were obtained. In all cases, serum vitamin B(12), folic acid and ferritin levels were analyzed during the 11-14 week period. Levels below <15 µg/L, 3 ng/mL and 211 pg/mL were accepted as nutrient deficiency for serum ferritin, folic acid and vitamin B(12), respectively. Results of serum screening markers of women below and above these values were compared with each other.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison of groups with ferritin levels <15 and >15 µg/L for 1st and 2nd trimester serum screening parameters revealed significant differences between groups in terms of pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (fb-hCG), AFP and hCG. Comparison of women with low versus normal B(12) levels revealed significant differences in terms of NT, PAPP-A and fb-hCG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although sufficient, number of cases is limited in this study so results cannot be generalized to all population. It could be advised that in addition to folic acid supplementation, deficiencies of ferritin and B(12) must be corrected in patients considering pregnancy or early 1st trimester pregnant women to obtain more accurate serum screening results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Fatih University, Ankara, Turkey. nerminkosus@gmail.com
authors.forename: Nermin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Köşüş
authors.forename: Aydın
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Köşüş
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hızlı
authors.forename: Emel Ü
authors.initials: EÜ
authors.lastname: Bitirgen
authors.forename: Nilgün Ö
authors.initials: NÖ
authors.lastname: Turhan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000592:standards; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood; D018568:Crown-Rump Length; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000032:analysis; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D005293:Ferritins; D005492:Folic Acid; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A; D014805:Vitamin B 12