Role of maternal serum ferritin in prediction of preterm labour

The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of measurement of serum ferritin level in pregnant women to predict preterm labour. The study included 236 women whose haemoglobin (Hb) levels were 10.5gm/dl and gestational age (GA) was less than 30weeks. Serum ferritin levels were measured at 30weeks of gestational age. At the end of the study, 23 women delivered with preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM) and 17 women delivered before 37weeks but without PROM (study group). The rest of the pregnant women (196 women) delivered between 37 and 40weeks (control group). We found a significant difference between the two groups with respect to serum ferritin level. The cut off value of serum ferritin between the two groups was 31ng/ml with sensitivity 92.8%, specificity 99.4%, positive predictive value 97.5%, negative predictive value 98.4% and accuracy 98.3%.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject: maternal serum ferritin has been found to be elevated in women who delivered preterm.What the results of this study add: In this study, we have shown that serum ferritin 31ng/ml is the optimal cut-point between preterm and full-term women.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research: Serum ferritin 31ng/ml could be proposed as a potential helpful marker to predict preterm labour.