Ferritin concentrations in low-birth babies in South-west Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract: Background: In the
absence of acute phase reaction,
ferritin concentration has been
used as a standard measurement
of iron stores. Low birth weight
babies are at risk of developing
iron lack because ferritin concentration at birth is influenced by
duration of gestation, maternal
iron status and conditions altering
maternal–foetal iron exchange.
Aim: The aim of this study was to
determine the ferritin concentrations of low birth weight babies in
comparison with that of normal
birth weight babies.
Materials and methods: Fortyfour normal birth weight (NBW)
babies and 40 low birth weight
(LBW) babies were recruited for
the study. About 1.0ml of venous
blood was drawn aseptically from
each subject into a micro EDTA
tube, centrifuged at 5000rpm for 5
minutes, the plasma separated into
cryotubes and stored at-20oC until
ready for quantitative determination of ferritin concentrations using direct immunoenzymatic colorimetric method.
Data obtained was analysed statistically using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS,
version 23, Chicago, IL, USA).
Results: Gestational age correlated
positively with ferritin concentrations in LBW neonates (p<0.05)
while APGAR score correlated
positively with ferritin concentrations in normal birth weight babies (r=0.398; p<0.05). Though
not statistically significant
(p=0.214), median values for ferritin concentrations were 188.5µg/
dl and 373µg/dl for LBW and
NBW neonates respectively.
Conclusion: Gestational age correlated positively with ferritin concentrations in LBW neonates.
Keywords: Low birth weight,
ferritin, APGAR score, gestational
age.