EVALUATION OF THE IRON STATUS OF THE NEWBORN BY SOLUBLE TRANSFERRIN RECEPTORS IN SERUM

The concentration of soluble transferrin receptors in serum has proven to be a reliable predictor of iron status in adults. Its high sensiti vity for iron deficiency combined with a small sample size (10 mu l) m akes it an interesting parameter for the assessment of iron stores in newborn infants. In the present study we investigated the usefulness o f the concentration of soluble transferrin receptors in serum in the a ssessment of iron metabolism in the newborn. Infants born after an unc omplicated labour were compared to infants in the intensive care unit. The concentration of soluble transferrin receptors in serum was found to be elevated compared to normal adults and independently of iron me tabolism. The concentration of soluble transferrin receptors did not c orrelate with serum iron and ferritin concentrations. In contrast to w hat was found in other studies, no relationship could be demonstrated between soluble transferrin receptors and birth weight or gestational age. The results of this study have shown that care has to be taken in the interpretation of the concentration of soluble transferrin recept ors in serum in newborn infants. It seems to be a parameter which is i ndependent of iron metabolism at least during the first days of life.