Comparison of cord blood ferritin levels of small for gestational age and appropriate-for-gestational-age newborns

Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the haematological parameters in paired maternal and cord blood samples of full-term appropriate-for-gestational-age and small-for-gestational-age newborns. Material and Method: Between April and July 2009, randomly choosen 81 mothers with no anemia and their full-term newborn babies were included in the study. Hemoglobin, haematocrit, red blood cell, mean corpuscular volume, serum iron, iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation and ferritin levels were measured in maternal and cord blood samples. Results: In term small-for-gestational age group, cord blood ferritin, transferrin saturation levels were significantly lower while iron binding capacity, hemoglobin, haematocrit levels were significantly higher than the appropriate-for-gestational age group. Conclusions: Full-term small-for-gestational age babies should be followed up closely and prophylactic iron treatment should be started before anemia and cognitive dysfunction develops. (Turk Arch Ped 2010; 45: 339-42)