Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression in placentae of women with iron deficiency anemia and β-thalassemia trait

Objective: To investigate hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) expression in placentae of women with iron-deficiency anemia and beta-thalassemia trait and to correlate the results with hematological parameters as well as with parameters associated with the outcome of pregnancy. Methods: About 126 women who delivered in the Larissa University Hospital were divided in three groups: iron-deficiency anemia (n = 39), beta-thalassemia trait carriers (n = 53) and control group (n = 34). HIF-1 alpha expression was assessed with immunochemical assays and statistical analysis was performed with chi-squared test and ANOVA. Results: HIF-1 alpha immunostaining was intense in the two groups of anemia. A statistically significant association was found between HIF-1 alpha immunoreactivity and hematocrit (p<0.001), hemoglobin (p<0.001), MCV (p<0.001), transferrin (p<0.001) and its receptors (p = 0.040), whereas no significant correlations were observed between HIF-1 alpha, iron serum levels (p = 0.256) and ferritin (p = 0.232). We found no association between HIF-1 alpha and birthweight (p = 0.256), placental weight (p = 0.870) and Apgar score at 1' (p = 0.210) and 5' (p = 0.400). Conclusions: HIF-1 alpha expression is affected by anemia, although this factor has no important direct effect on the perinatal outcome.