ANALYSIS OF FE AND TOTAL IRON BINDING CAPACITY (TIBC) IN CORD AND MATERNAL BLOOD SERUM

Abstract

This work explains the correlation between antenatal maternal blood and umbilical cord blood iron levels and it was not found to be closely related previously. It is observed that economic background of the patients influences the normal range of Iron binding level in Umbilical cord blood of the neonates selected from a government hospital, India. This investigation concludes that low Fe content in Umbilical cord blood makes the child susceptible to various Fe related disorders including Hemolytic anaemia and low Oxygen content in the blood due to the decrease in the levels of oxyhemoglobin. However, TIBC levels were found to be normal in almost all the samples analysed. As TIBC levels are found to be decreased in hypoproteinemia and in various inflammatory states, it concludes with some degree of certainty that these parameters are normal in these cases. These results collaborate with a widely established fact that there are a high prevalence and susceptibility to Fe related disorders in most of the neonates in India. As little literature is available on the estimation of Fe & TIBC levels in Umbilical cord blood, this work will go a long way in the early detection of Fe levels and initiate a suitable treatment in this regard. Key words: Iron in Umbilical cord blood, Total Iron Binding capacity, umbilical Cord blood, ex utero method, In utero method.