A Retrospective Assessment Of Prevention And Treatment Of Iron Deficiency Amongst Patients Requiring Peripartum Transfusion

Background: Iron deficiency is common and affects nearly 18% of pregnant women in the United States. This is attributable to both poor baseline stores in young women and the high iron requirements of pregnancy; a singleton pregnancy results in a net loss of 630 mg of iron. Both maternal and fetal outcomes are impacted by iron deficiency. There are higher rates of maternal postpartum depression, fetal growth restriction, prematurity and developmental delay when mothers are iron deficient in pregnancy. It is also important to avoid transfusions in women of child bearing age, due to the risks of alloimmunization and hemolytic disease of the newborn. Since iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia in pregnant women, we sought to assess the prevalence of iron deficiency in women receiving peripartum red blood cell transfusions.