Anemia in pregnancy and serum hepcidin levels

AIM: Anemia is common during pregnancy and is associated with higher perinatal maternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Identifying and finding the right treatment approach for iron deficiency in pregnant women is of great clinical importance because it can prevent unnecessary spelling of therapy with iron preparations. DATA: We determined serum hepcidin levels using ELISA assay in 50 pregnant women. The samples were taken in the University Hospital "Michin Dom" for a period 2013 – 2014 year. We measure serum iron levels, CRP, ferritin and hemoglobin concentration. Patients were divided into three groups: pregnant without anemia; pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and pregnancy with anemia of chronic inflammation (ACI). RESULTS: We found statistically significant differences in serum hepcidin levels between measured groups: pregnancy without anemia – 20.5 ± 6.2 ?g/L; pregnancy with IDA – 1.3 ± 0.6 ?g/L; pregnancy with ACI – 111.3 ± 24.4 ?g/L. Serum ferritin levels showed significant differences between three groups: pregnancy without anemia – 59.1 ± 23.6 ng/mL; pregnancy with IDA – 17.6 ± 7.1 ng/mL; pregnancy with ACI – 118.2 ± 13.1 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that our results may support the right choice of a therapeutic approach to the iron-deficiency anemia or anemia of chronic inflammation during pregnancy.