Jornal de Hematologia e Doenças Tromboembólicas
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Exploring Hematologic Markers: Serum Ferritin Concentration and Iron Therapy Needs in Pregnant Women

Cheryl Misak*

The study aims to investigate the association between serum ferritin concentration in the third trimester of pregnancy and various hematologic parameters, with a specific focus on discerning the most reliable indicator for identifying women in need of iron therapy. Blood samples were collected from pregnant women with a hemoglobin level above 10 g/dL, excluding those with thalassemia trait at the time of booking. The samples, obtained at 28-30 weeks' gestation, underwent a correlation analysis, utilizing Spearman ρ values, to assess the relationship between serum ferritin concentration and hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean cell hemoglobin, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit. The analysis, employing Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, determined the optimal relationship among these parameters. The results demonstrated a significant correlation between serum ferritin concentration and hemoglobin (ρ =0 0.211), mean corpuscular volume (ρ =0.332), mean cell hemoglobin (ρ =0.304), and hematocrit (ρ =0.199). Notably, the ROC curve analysis revealed that hemoglobin exhibited the largest area under the curve. The study concludes that serum ferritin concentration in the early third trimester is most strongly correlated with hemoglobin levels. Using a cutoff of 11 g/dL or below (identified in 25% of all patients), the research successfully identified 64% of women requiring iron therapy. These results provide details about an important hematologic characteristic that can aid healthcare practitioners in making informed decisions regarding iron supplementation during pregnancy.