Publication:

Association of maternal serum ferritin level with preterm labor

Background Preterm labor is a significant contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Identifying reliable biomarkers for predicting preterm birth can improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. Serum ferritin, an acute-phase reactant and iron storage protein, may play a role in the pathophysiology of preterm labor. This study aimed to evaluate the association between maternal serum ferritin levels and preterm labor.

Methods A case-control study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Dhaka Medical College Hospital from June 2022 to May 2023. A total of 88 pregnant women were enrolled using purposive sampling, including 44 with preterm labor (cases) and 44 with term labor (controls). Sociodemographic, obstetric, and biochemical data were collected, and maternal serum ferritin levels were measured. Data were analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 25, and comparisons between groups were made using the Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square test where appropriate.

Results There was no significant difference in maternal age between the two groups. However, serum ferritin levels were significantly higher in the preterm group (89.09±106.07 ng/ml) compared to the term group (32.13±31.40 ng/ml) (p=0.004). A weak but statistically significant negative correlation was observed between serum ferritin levels and gestational age (r=-0.313, p<0.05).

Conclusions Elevated maternal serum ferritin levels are significantly associated with preterm labor. Serum ferritin may serve as a useful biomarker for identifying women at risk of preterm delivery, allowing for timely interventions to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes.