Assessment of Hepcidin-25 and Iron Status Profiles in Pregnant Women With Thalassemia Minor

TL;DR

This study found that pregnant women with thalassemia minor have lower hepcidin-25 levels but similar iron status compared to normal pregnancies, with no iron overload.

Contribution

The study provides new evidence on hepcidin-25 dynamics in thalassemia minor pregnancies and clarifies the safety of iron supplementation.

Findings

Hepcidin-25 levels in thalassemia minor pregnancies were significantly lower than in normal pregnancies in late gestation.

Iron supplementation in thalassemia minor pregnancies did not lead to iron overload.

Pregnant women with thalassemia minor showed mild anemia that was not fully corrected by iron supplementation.

Abstract

The objective of the study is to compare hepcidin-25 levels between normal pregnant women and those with thalassemia minor.

This prospective cohort study involved pregnant women with either normal pregnancies or thalassemia minor. Hepcidin-25 levels and iron study panels were measured at three time points: in the first trimester before the start of iron supplementation (gestational age [GA] < 14 weeks), in the third trimester (GA 28–32 weeks), and after GA 36 weeks.

The study included 125 pregnant women, comprising 93 with normal pregnancies and 32 with thalassemia minor. The hepcidin levels in the thalassemia minor group at GA 28–32 weeks and after GA 36 weeks were significantly lower than those in the normal pregnancy group (p values < 0.01 and 0.01, respectively). The study group exhibited mild anemia and lower Hb levels throughout pregnancy compared with the control group.

Hepcidin-25 levels are significantly lower in pregnant women with thalassemia minor, but other iron profiles in these women are comparable to those in normal pregnancies, with no evidence of iron overload. Pregnancy with thalassemia minor is associated with mild anemia that cannot be fully corrected by iron supplementation. However, iron supplementation does not lead to iron overload and should be prescribed as part of standard antenatal care.

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