ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HIGH SERUM FERRITIN LEVELS AND MID-PREGNANCY GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Introduction:

Ferritin levels found to have an important role in the development of many syndromes during pregnancy. To compensate for the risk of low ferritin levels in pregnant females, usually iron and vitamin supplements have been prescribed. The use of these supplements may increase the ferritin level in normal pregnancy and can cause several syndromes including gestational diabetes mellitus.

Objective:

To determine the association of high serum ferritin level with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Material and methods:

This Case-Control study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore for six months. Using Non-probability consecutive sampling 70 pregnant women were divided into cases and controls. Patients with high serum ferritin (149 µg / L) were calculated in both groups and then Odds ratio and Relative Risk were estimated to find an association between high serum ferritin levels and mid-pregnancy GDM.

Results:

Patients with mid-pregnancy GDM had statistically significantly higher serum ferritin levels. (36.21 ± 59.07 µg/L) compared to controls (12.46 ± 13.87 µg/L) (t (68) = 2.316, p = 0.024) 15% GDM cases (n=35) had high serum ferritin level, while in the controls group (n=35) no change in the serum ferritin observed. Relative Risk estimates showed a doubling of the risk of having midpregnancy GDM with high serum ferritin concentration [RR=2.167 (95% CI = 1.66 – 2.81)]

Conclusion:

High serum ferritin level is associated with GDM