IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

SIGNIFICANCE OF SERUM FERRITIN IN DIAGNOSIS IN PREGNANT FEMALES OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Anemia is very common especially in developing countries and in Pakistan 70-80% of pregnant population is suffering from iron deficiency anemia. Ferritin is intracellular globular iron storage protein. The low level of ferritin indicates lack of iron that may lead to anemia and its high values may indicate iron overload. Objective: To determine the incidence of anemia on the basis of ferritin in three socioeconomic groups i.e. poor, middle and upper class and in three trimesters of pregnancy. Materials & Methods: Total 45 pregnant females were selected and divided in three categories of poor, middle, and upper class based on their socioeconomic status. Serum ferritin levels were measured by ELISA method. Results & Conclusions: Total mean serum ferritin (ng/ml) level were found to be 18.5± 3.5, 14.6± 3.0, 14.7± 3.6 in first, second and third trimesters respectively. Serum ferritin was very low in all three socioeconomic groups and it was lowest in poor class as compare to middle and upper class. It was concluded that serum ferritin is a good and reliable marker for detection of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy as compared to hemoglobin.