Serum prohepcidin levels and iron parameters in term small-for gestational age newborns.

Aim. To understand the effect of prenatal chronic hypoxia on prohepcidin levels in term newborns. Method. We determined prohepcidin (Pro-Hep) levels in both term appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) and term small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants. Uteroplacental insufficiency had exposed all SGA infants to chronic hypoxia. Serum samples were collected from nine full-term SGA infants. Samples were analyzed for complete blood count, serum iron and ferritin concentrations, iron-binding capacity, and prohepcidin levels. Results. The mean serum Pro-Hep level was 156.4 ± 46.7 ng/ml for SGA infants and 482 ± 371.9 ng/ml for 16 healthy term AGA infants (historical controls); this difference was statistically significant. Statistical analyses revealed significant between-group differences for hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, red blood cell distribution width, and serum ferritin and Pro-Hep levels. Conclusion. This study showed that compared with AGA infants, Pro-Hep levels were lower in term SGA infants, suggesting that prenatal chronic hypoxia decreases Pro-Hep synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]