Serum Ferritin Levels with Some Hematological Parameters in Women with Preterm Labour or PPROM

Preterm labour is defined as the presence of uterine contractions of sufficient frequency and intensity to cause progressive effacement and dilation of the cervix prior to term gestation between (24-37) weeks of gestation. Aim of current study aims at conducting and detecting the serum ferritin level could be use as predictor in women with preterm labour. So to decrease morbidity and mortality among the mother and her baby by predicting early labour.

Patient and Method: The study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tikrit Teaching Hospital, included 100 (study and control) laboring women attending to hospital, patients included in the study were subdivided into two groups:fifty of them were preterm labour cases (gestational age between 24-37) and 50 of them had intact membranes and the other 50 were with preterm premature rupture of membranes. The second group consist of 100 patients with gestational age more than 37 weeks. All patient were subjected to the Hematological investigations (HB%, PCV, and serum ferritin).

Results: In this study the patients were of comparable age with a mean age of the preterm labour group of 23.45+4.18 ranging from 16-35 years, so gestational age distribution of both group, the preterm group women had a mean gestational age (34 weeks) which is significantly lower than those of the term pregnant women (38 weeks). All groups were comparable in terms of hemoglobin and PCV level (p>0.05), while there was higher serum iron and higher serum ferritin level in the preterm group compared to the control group (p<0.0001). Only serum ferritin was higher in those PPROM (P<0.0001) while the other parameter were not significantly different in there level between the two groups.Preterm group showed significant higher of serum iron of preterm from control (P<0.0001) and preterm premature ruptured membranes PPROM from control (P<0.0001).The serum ferritin showed a significantly higher level in preterm labour from control (P<0.0001) and significantly higher level in preterm premature ruptured membranes PPROM than control group (P<0.0001).

Conclusion: Elevated serum ferritin level could be use as a predictor for prediction of spontaneous preterm delivery and PPROM at high risk of these complication, although it is worth mentioning that a larger study population.