Iron Homeostasis in Mother and Child during Placental Malaria Infection

In malaria-endemic areas, iron deficiency and placental Plasmodium falciparum infection commonly coexist In primigravidae and their newborns, hepcidin and other iron parameters were evaluated in groups and classified according to placental P falciparum and maternal anemia status Mothers had relatively high hepcidin levels considering their low iron status In cord blood, levels of hepcidin, hemoglobin, and other iron parameters were also similar for groups We conclude that maternal hepcidin is not significantly altered as a function of placental infection and/or anemia Importantly, fetal hemoglobin and iron status were also unaffected regardless of the presence of placental infection or maternal anemia