Conclusions
LID is highly prevalent in early pregnancy and 25% of participants had
ferritin levels in the iron deficiency range. Presence of raised RDW,
hypochromic microcytic red cells, pencil cells, and <2 years’
gap between pregnancies were indicators of LID. To identify pregnant
women with LID, blood film, haemoglobin, and RDW could be recommended as
basic tests, and ferritin test as an affirmative one.
Keywords : Latent iron deficiency, iron deficiency anaemia,
pregnancy, red cell distribution width, full blood count, serum ferritin