Objective:

To evaluate the relationship between serum ferritin (SF) and maternal hemoglobin (Hb) levels with those of newborns in a public hospital in Lima, Peru.

Methods:

We included consecutive pregnant women at term without complications and newborns of normal deliveries. We excluded patients with chronic diseases, infectious diseases, hemoglobinopathies and premature newborns or of low weight. FS was measured by chemiluminescence and Hb by impedance in venous sample from pregnant women and from the umbilical cord from the newborns. Maternal anemia was defined as Hb<11g/dl, iron deficiency (ID) if SF was <30 mg/ml. Descriptive statistics were performed using either Pearson o Spearman coefficients, t-test student, and Wilcoxon rank sum tests; a p value<0,05 was considered significant.

Results:

74 pregnant women and their newborns were recruited; mean age was 26 years (IQR:22-31); mean gestational age was 39,06±1,0 week. Maternal anemia was found in 36,4% (mild to moderate in 96,3%), Hb ≥9g/dl in 94,6% and ID in 67,6%. None of the newborns had anemia or ID. The overall correlation between FS and Hb of the mother and the newborn was non-significant. With maternal SF <30 ng/ml, the correlation was r=0,339 (p=0,01). No significant difference was found between the anthropometric characteristics of the newborn of anemic versus non-anemic mothers.

Conclusions:

No significative correlation was found for maternal SF or Hb and respective values for newborns. However, a correlation was found when SF was <30 ng/ml.

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