Iron Deficiency in Pregnancy: Need for Improved Screening Practice

During pregnancy, a woman's iron requirements increase nearly tenfold to adequately support fetal development and body's elevated iron needs.

While prenatal iron stores and physiological changes that enhance iron absorption help meet these demands, they may not be sufficient, particularly for 50% of women who begin pregnancy with low iron levels.

‘A #ferritin threshold of 60 �g/L at 15 weeks of #pregnancy serves as an indicator of #iron_deficiency in the third trimester. #medindia’

A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that many pregnant women experience iron deficiency, even in high-resource environments. ().

Researchers from Ireland found that over 80% of the 641 women studied were iron deficient by the third trimester, despite not being anemic in the first trimester. This deficiency was more prevalent than in some low-resource settings.

Effect of Iron Deficiency During Pregnancy

Iron deficiency, can lead to anemia, which reduces the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen. Iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women can cause preterm birth, low birth weight, postpartum depression, and long-term neurodevelopmental conditions in children.

Currently, screening for iron deficiency during pregnancy is not routine, and there are no universally accepted diagnostic criteria. While healthcare providers recognize the importance of monitoring iron levels due to increased demands during pregnancies.

The European Hematology Society and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics advocate for screening all pregnant women in the first trimester and all women of reproductive age, regardless of anemic status.

Ferritin Threshold for Early Iron Deficiency Detection During Pregnancy

A ferritin threshold of 60�g/L at 15 weeks gestation is considered a predictor of iron deficiency in the later stages of pregnancy. The authors recommend more comprehensive screening and supplementation strategies to prevent adverse maternal and infant health outcomes.

The medical community's approach to iron deficiency in pregnancy has been criticized as outdated, with need for better practice in screening and treatment methods. Further studies are needed to establish clearer guidelines and improve maternal health outcomes.

Reference:

1. Longitudinal evaluation of iron status during pregnancy: a prospective cohort study in a high-resource setting- (https:www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916524006695?via%3Dihub)

Source: Medindia