Ferritin concentrations in low-birth babies in South-west Nigeria

Background: In the absence of acute phase reaction, ferritin concentration has been used as a standard measurement of iron stores. Low birth  weight babies are at risk of developing iron lack because ferritin concentration at birth is influenced by duration of gestation, maternal iron status  and conditions altering maternal–foetal iron exchange. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the ferritin concentrations of low birth weight babies in comparison with that of normal birth weight  babies. Materials and methods: Fortyfour normal birth weight (NBW) babies and 40 low birth weight (LBW) babies were recruited for the study. About  1.0ml of venous blood was drawn aseptically from each subject into a micro EDTA tube, centrifuged at 5000rpm for 5 minutes, the plasma separated  into cryotubes and stored at-20oC until ready for quantitative determination of ferritin concentrations using direct immunoenzymatic  colorimetric method. Data obtained was analysed statistically using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 23, Chicago, IL, USA).    Results: Gestational age correlated positively with ferritin concentrations in LBW neonates (p<0.05) while APGAR score correlated positively with  ferritin concentrations in normal birth weight babies (r=0.398; p<0.05). Though not statistically significant (p=0.214), median values for ferritin  concentrations were 188.5μg/dl and 373μg/dl for LBW and NBW neonates respectively. Conclusion: Gestational age correlated positively with ferritin concentrations in LBW neonates.