CORRELATION BETWEEN MATERNAL IRON STATUS AND FETAL HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS: EVALUATING ERYTHROPOIETIN, HEMOGLOBIN, AND FERRITIN LEVELS IN MATERNAL AND CORD BLOOD

To evaluate the correlation between maternal iron status and fetal hematological parameters, focusing on hemoglobin, ferritin, and erythropoietin levels in maternal and cord blood. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at Kohat Medical College and its affiliated hospitals from January 2024 to January 2025. A total of 82 mother newborn pairs were included. Maternal venous blood was collected prior to delivery, while cord blood samples were obtained immediately after delivery. Hematological parameters were analyzed using an automated analyzer, ferritin levels were measured via chemiluminescent immunoassay, and erythropoietin was determined using ELISA. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, with Pearson correlation applied to assess associations. Results: Maternal mean hemoglobin and ferritin levels were significantly lower than reference standards (p<0.05). Cord blood hemoglobin (14.9 ± 1.8 g/dL) and ferritin (105.7 ± 28.9 ng/mL) were significantly higher than maternal values (p<0.05). Positive correlations were observed between maternal and cord hemoglobin (r=0.46, p=0.001), ferritin (r=0.41, p=0.002), and erythropoietin (r=0.29, p=0.03). Conclusion: Maternal iron status strongly influences neonatal hematological indices, with cord blood ferritin and hemoglobin reflecting maternal reserves. Optimizing maternal iron supplementation and routine ferritin screening during pregnancy may improve neonatal outcomes.