IRON STATUS IN PREECLAMPSIA

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Abstract

Objective: To evaluate iron status in pregnancy induced hypertension and role of iron in the etiology
and pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. Design: Coefficient correlation study. Place and Duration. At Department of
Biochemistry, Frontier Medical College, Abbottabad with collaboration of Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Ayub Medical Complex, Abbottabad from March 2006-March 2007. Material and Methods: Study was performed on
hundred pregnant women of age ranging between 15-35 years and having gestational age between28 to 34 weeks.
Fifty obstetric patients were identified as having pre-eclampsia. Fifty healthy pregnant subjects were taken as controls,
having uncomplicated pregnancies and were normotensive throughout gestation and without proteinuria. Results:
Results depicts that mean age of pre-eclamptic group was significantly low (P<0.001) as compared to control. Both
parameters, Hemoglobin and Haematocrit were significantly higher (P<0.05) in pre-eclamptic as compared to controls.
Serum iron, serum ferritin and transferrin saturation were significantly higher (P<0.001) in pre-eclamptic in comparison
with control group. Total iron binding capacity and unsaturated iron binding capacity were significantly lower (P<0.001)
in pre-eclamptic group when compared to control group. Correlation coefficient between serum iron, total iron binding
capacity (TIBC), serum ferritin, unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in
pre-eclamptic group showed no significant positive correlation in any parameter. Conclusion: It is concluded that
hemoglobin, haematocrit, serum iron, serum ferritin and transferrin saturation are significantly increased in pregnant
women that later develops pre-eclampsia. Excess iron is postulated as casual factor in the oxidative stress ie; in its
radical form, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. Therefore, iron status of pregnant women
should be assessed before giving iron supplements as these may cause more harm than benefit.