Evaluation of soluble transferrin receptor, soluble transferrin receptor/ferritin ratio, and other iron-related parameters of pregnant women in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Iron is one of the essential trace elements required for hemoglobin synthesis and also for many metabolic processes. Inadequate iron intake can lead to varying degrees of deficiency, from low iron stores to early iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia and this is dangerous to both fetus and mother. Aim: This study was carried out to assess the levels of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), sTfR/serum ferritin (sTfR/SF) ratio, and other iron-related parameters of pregnant women in Cross River State, Nigeria, with the aim to establish reference ranges of these parameters for the population under reference. Materials and Methods: One hundred and seventy apparently healthy pregnant women within the age range of 15 and 45 years attending the antenatal clinics of health-care facilities in Cross River State, Nigeria, were enrolled in this study. The controls consisted of 100 age-matched apparently healthy nonpregnant women from the same environment. Red cell indices were determined using automated blood cell counter. Serum iron and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were determined using colorimetric method. SF and sTfR were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Results: The mean ± standard deviation of the parameters in pregnant woman and in nonpregnant women were serum iron (82.19 ± 3.44), SF (32.15 ± 3.11), transferrin saturation with iron (22.43 ± 11.62), hemoglobin concentration (11.00 ± 0.11), and hematocrit (0.33 ± 0.30). Decreased significantly during pregnancy while TIBC (422.43 ± 19.60), sTfR (3.38 ± 0.41), and sTfR/SF ratio (176.98 ± 396.87) increased significantly in the pregnant women than in nonpregnant women (P < 0.05). The values of serum iron, SF, TIBC, and transferrin saturation were found to show significant variations in the various trimesters of pregnancy. The values of sTfR and sTfR/SF ratio increased significantly (P = 0.01 and P = 001) as trimester increases in our patients. Conclusion: This study reports, for the first time, values for sTfR and sTfR/SF ratio in apparently healthy pregnant women in Cross River State, South-South Nigeria. The study also gives an indication that the use of sTfR and sTfR/SF as a marker in assessing iron status of pregnant women needs to be explored.