Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes in serum iron levels, if any, as a biochemical marker of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). METHOD: Fifty-four primigravidas with PIH formed the study group and 20 normotensive primigravidas comprised the control group in a prospective study. Serum iron levels were estimated at diagnosis of PIH, at termination of pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Data was analyzed using Student's t-test, the X 2-test and regression analysis. RESULTS: Subjects with PIH were found to have higher serum iron levels at diagnosis of PIH (recruitment value) and at termination of pregnancy than the controls ( P < 0.001). Serum iron levels in the PIH subjects decreased markedly in the postpartum period simultaneously with the clinical recovery from PIH. Serum iron values of ≥ 110 gg/dl was found to differentiate PIH from normotensive pregnancies with a sensitivity and specificity of 89% and 90%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in serum iron levels correlated with the clinical course of PIH and appeared to be a uniform and specific biochemical marker of PIH although its correlation with the severity of PIH was found to be poor.
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