Impact of Growth Restriction and Other Prenatal Risk Factors on Cord Blood Iron Status in Prematurity

Objective To determine whether prenatal risk factors (RFs) that predict cord blood iron status in term newborns also predict iron status of premature newborns. Study design Cord blood iron indices from 80 preterm newborns were compared with historical and demographic RFs for developing iron deficiency if born at term. Result The presence of multiple RFs did not incrementally interfere with cord iron status in preterm newborns. Poorer iron status accompanied being small for gestational age in prematurity, but other RFs, including diabetes, had relatively little impact. Conclusion Growth-restricted preterm newborns are at risk for poor iron endowment, likely due to uteroplacental insufficiency. Other RFs were less impactful on iron status of premature newborns than in term newborns, likely reflecting that disruptive effects of RFs are more impactful in the third trimester. Understanding RFs for poor iron endowment is important for clinical recognition and treatment of premature babies.