LATENT IRON DEFICIENCY IN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN PREGRAVID PREPARATION

Latent iron deficiency (LID) is a preclinical stage of iron-deficient states in which tissue and storage iron reserves become depleted while haemoglobin concentration remains within normal limits. Among women of reproductive age, LID prevalence reaches 30–50%, driven mainly by recurrent menstrual blood loss, dietary patterns, and repeated pregnancies and deliveries. Although a detailed clinical picture of anaemia is absent, latent iron deficiency is associated with an elevated risk of subsequently developing iron-deficiency anaemia, gestational complications (miscarriage, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, postpartum haemorrhage) and unfavourable perinatal outcomes. This review summarises current knowledge on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of LID, describes its diagnostic criteria (primarily serum ferritin), identifies the relevant risk groups, and discusses the place of screening and correction of latent iron deficiency within pregravid preparation programmes. Timely detection and replenishment of iron stores at the preconception stage is regarded as a meaningful reserve for lowering maternal and perinatal morbidity.