EVALUATION OF IRON LEVELS IN NEWBORNS WITH HIE
Main Article Content
Keywords
Neonatal HIE, ferritin, iron levels, TIBC, oxidative stress, ferroptosis
Abstract
Introduction: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, primarily driven by oxidative stress and neuronal injury. Emerging evidence highlights the role of iron metabolism in the pathogenesis of HIE, particularly through mechanisms such as ferroptosis. This study aimed to evaluate the iron status in neonates with varying severity of HIE.
Objective: To evaluate serum ferritin, serum iron, TIBC, and transferrin saturation levels among newborns with HIE when admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.
Material and Methods: This prospective observational study was set up at Dr Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, Pakistan, between March, 2024 and August, 2024. Fifty-five term neonates were used with a clinical diagnosis of HIE. The parameters of iron profiles were determined and linked to phases of HIEs.
Results: Serum ferritin and serum iron levels progressively rose between Stage I and Stage III HIE, although TIBC declined and transferrin saturation rose. These alterations proved to be statistically important and demonstrated possible dependence on the severity of HIE.
Conclusion: Iron metabolism is greatly affected in HIE neonates. Assessment of iron concentrations is an effective biomarker of disease progression and a basis of therapeutic approaches in the future.
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Dr Tufail Ahmed Soomro
Assistant Professor, GMMMC Hospital Sukkur, Pakistan
Dr Sajid Jabbar Shaikh
Consultant Peadiatrician/ Senior Medical Officer at Dr Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, Pakistan
Dr Waqas Ali
Associate Professor of Paediatric Medicine, Lahore Medical and Dental College Lahore, Pakistan
Dr Amna abid
Post Graduate Resident Paediatrics, Nishter Hospital Multan Punjab, Pakistan
Dr Poonam Kataria
Assistant Professor, Bolan Medical Complex Hospital Quetta, Pakistan
Dr Riffat Farrukh
Department of Paediatric Medicine, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital Karachi, Pakistan
Dr Noor Ul Huda Tunio
MBBS, Mehran Hospital Hyderabad Sindh Pakistan