Physiological macrocytosis of pregnancy

Trop Doct. 2007 Jan;37(1):42-3. doi: 10.1258/004947507779952104.

Abstract

In a prospective study of 40 women, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) values in second and third trimesters were compared between women who were iron deficient and those who were iron replete. There was no difference in the two groups. Hence reduced MCV seen in iron deficiency anaemia cannot be relied upon as an effective marker in pregnancy due to physiological macrocytosis.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / blood
  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / diagnosis*
  • Erythrocyte Indices*
  • Female
  • Ferritins / blood
  • Hematocrit
  • Humans
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / blood
  • Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / diagnosis*
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Second
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Third
  • Prenatal Diagnosis*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Ferritins