Cord Blood Hemoglobin Levels in Full Term Neonates of Mothers with Iron Deficiency Anemia

El-Nabi, Marwa Adham El-Mohamdy Hasb; El-Farghali, Ola Galal Bader El-Deen; Ahmed, Mortada El-Sayed; Azzam, Nesmahar Tark Abdel Hamed; Rezk, Sara Helmy AbdElaziz

doi:10.21608/ejhm.2023.281263

Cord Blood Hemoglobin Levels in Full Term Neonates of Mothers with Iron Deficiency Anemia

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejhm.2023.281263

Abstract

Background: For the oxygenation of tissues, cellular metabolism, the production of energy, and the metabolism of toxins, iron is a vital micronutrient. Iron status in the maternal circulation, its transportation through the placenta, and its subsequent transfer into the fetal circulation all play a part in the controlled process of iron transfer from mother to fetus. Objective: The aim of the current study is to evaluate cord blood hemoglobin (Hb) levels in neonates of mothers with iron deficiency anemia (IDA).
Patients and methods: This prospective case-control study was conducted at Ain Shams University Hospitals. It included 60 full terms newborn who were born at Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. Case group included full term neonates with maternal IDA: Maternal Hb <11 g/dl, MCV or MCH below reference ranges, serum ferritin below normal detection limit and/or low transferrin. Control group included full term neonates without maternal IDA. For the neonates, samples of cord blood were obtained for analysis of the level of CBC (Hb, MCV and MCH).
Results: In comparison between cases and controls as regard RBCS parameter, there was no significant difference between cases and controls regarding neonatal Hb and MCH, but there was significantly lower MCV in cases compared to controls. Conclusion: There was no relation between the maternal Hb deficient levels and neonatal Hb. The first sign of iron deficiency in neonates reflected in lower MCV in cases, but did not reach to decrease Hb levels in neonates.

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