TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessment of iron status using plasma transferrin receptor in pregnant women with and without human immunodeficiency virus infection in Malawi
AU - Semba, R. D.
AU - Kumwenda, N.
AU - Hoover, D. R.
AU - Taha, T. E.
AU - Mtimavalye, L.
AU - Broadhead, R.
AU - Eisinger, W.
AU - Miotti, P. G.
AU - Chiphangwi, J. D.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Background: Although anemia is highly prevalent during pregnancy and is common during human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infection, anemia and iron status have not been well characterized in HIV-infected pregnant women. Objective: To gain insight into iron status in HIV-infected pregnant women using plasma transferrin receptor and related indicators of anemia. Study design: Plasma transferrin receptor, ferritin, α1-acid glycoprotein, C-reactive protein and hemoglobin concentrations were measured in pregnant women, gestational age 18-28 weeks, seen in an urban antenatal clinic in Blantyre, Malawi. Results: The prevalence of anemia among 662 HIV-positive and 190 HIV-negative pregnant women was 73.1% and 50.0%, respectively (P <0.0001). Among HIV-positive and HIV-negative women, median plasma transferrin receptor concentrations were 24.4 and 24.1 nmol/l (P = 0.5), respectively, and median plasma ferritin concentrations were 17.8 and 20.8 μg/l (P <0.05), respectively. There was a large overlap in plasma transferrin receptor concentrations among women with and without anemia. Using the combination of hemoglobin and ferritin as a standard, the sensitivity and specificity of plasma transferrin receptor in diagnosing iron deficiency anemia was estimated at 45.9% and 68.1%, respectively. Conclusion: The use of plasma transferrin receptor concentrations as an indicator of iron deficiency anemia may be limited in pregnant women with chronic inflammation and infection.
AB - Background: Although anemia is highly prevalent during pregnancy and is common during human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infection, anemia and iron status have not been well characterized in HIV-infected pregnant women. Objective: To gain insight into iron status in HIV-infected pregnant women using plasma transferrin receptor and related indicators of anemia. Study design: Plasma transferrin receptor, ferritin, α1-acid glycoprotein, C-reactive protein and hemoglobin concentrations were measured in pregnant women, gestational age 18-28 weeks, seen in an urban antenatal clinic in Blantyre, Malawi. Results: The prevalence of anemia among 662 HIV-positive and 190 HIV-negative pregnant women was 73.1% and 50.0%, respectively (P <0.0001). Among HIV-positive and HIV-negative women, median plasma transferrin receptor concentrations were 24.4 and 24.1 nmol/l (P = 0.5), respectively, and median plasma ferritin concentrations were 17.8 and 20.8 μg/l (P <0.05), respectively. There was a large overlap in plasma transferrin receptor concentrations among women with and without anemia. Using the combination of hemoglobin and ferritin as a standard, the sensitivity and specificity of plasma transferrin receptor in diagnosing iron deficiency anemia was estimated at 45.9% and 68.1%, respectively. Conclusion: The use of plasma transferrin receptor concentrations as an indicator of iron deficiency anemia may be limited in pregnant women with chronic inflammation and infection.
KW - Ferritin
KW - Hemoglobin
KW - Human immunodeficiency virus
KW - Iron
KW - Iron deficiency anemia
KW - Malawi
KW - Pregnancy
KW - Transferrin receptor
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U2 - 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601106
DO - 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601106
M3 - Article
C2 - 11114684
AN - SCOPUS:0034508974
SN - 0954-3007
VL - 54
SP - 872
EP - 877
JO - European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
JF - European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
IS - 12
ER -