SIGINIFICANCE OF SERUM HEPCIDIN AS A NOVEL BIOMARKER FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF IRON STATUS IN PREGNANT WOMEN

Dr.T. Sangeetha; Dr.R. Inmozhi Sivakama Sundari; Dr. K. Lavanyakumari; Dr. K. Santha; Dr.S. Sethupathy; Dr.P. Ashok Kumar

Volume : VIII, Issue : X, October - 2019

SIGINIFICANCE OF SERUM HEPCIDIN AS A NOVEL BIOMARKER FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF IRON STATUS IN PREGNANT WOMEN

Dr. T. Sangeetha, Dr. R. Inmozhi Sivakama Sundari, Dr. K. Lavanyakumari, Dr. K. Santha, Dr. S. Sethupathy, Dr. P. Ashok Kumar

Abstract :

Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common cause of anaemia during pregnancy and is associated with high maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. Understanding the iron status in pregnant women provides a foundation for considering the role in screening and supplementation. Iron absorption status is governed by the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin. Present study was aimed to correlate the estimated serum hepcidin and serum ferritin levels in pregnant women during 1st trimester. A total of 90 pregnant women before starting iron supplementation were selected. Serum hepcidin and ferritin level were estimated by ELISA method. Based on serum ferritin levels study group have been divided into 2 groups, group 1[>12ng/ml] and group 2[<12ng/ml]. Statistical analysis done using SPSS–25. Unpaired student t–test and Pearson�s correlation analysis were done. Serum hepcidin was significantly low in group [anaemic] than group 1[non anaemic] with a p–value of <0.001 which was highly significant. There was a strong positive correlation between serum hepcidin and serum ferritin[ r value 0.657] with p value <0. 001. Hence serum hepcidin could be used as a single novel biomarker of iron status.