Serum ferritin thresholds for the diagnosis of iron deficiency in pregnancy: a systematic review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the use of serum ferritin thresholds for diagnosing iron deficiency in pregnant women with anemia.
Results Summary
The study identified serum ferritin thresholds (<12 and <15 ng/mL) as commonly used diagnostic markers for iron deficiency in pregnancy, based on a review of 76 studies, primarily observational. It highlighted the clinical utility of serum ferritin as a non-invasive alternative to bone marrow aspiration.
Population
Pregnant women with anemia.
Effective Dosage
Not specified.
Duration
Not specified.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iron or micronutrient supplementation | neutral | serum ferritin thresholds | pregnancy | - | included | #1 |
The aim of this review was to understand the landscape of serum ferritin in diagnosing iron deficiency in the aetiology of anaemia in pregnancy. Iron deficiency in pregnancy is a major public health problem leading to the development of anaemia. Reducing the global prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age is a 2025 global nutrition target. Bone marrow aspiration is the gold standard test for iron deficiency but requires an invasive procedure; therefore, serum ferritin is the most clinically useful test. We undertook a systematic search of electronic databases and trial registers from inception to January 2016. Studies of iron or micronutrient supplementation in pregnancy with pre-defined serum ferritin thresholds were included. Two independent reviewers selected studies, extracted data and assessed quality. There were 76 relevant studies mainly of observational study design (57%). The most commonly used thresholds of serum ferritin for the diagnosis of iron deficiency were <12 and <15 ng mL