Serum transferrin receptor, ferritin, and reticulocyte maturity indices during the first year of life in 'large' preterm infants.

Background: Preterm infants are at risk of developing iron deficiency; among the iron status and hemopoiesis indices the serum transferrin receptor (sTfr) has been shown to be a useful indicator in assessing iron status, while immature reticulocyte production is regarded as an estimator of erythropoiesis.

Objective: To investigate age-related changes in iron status infants born 'moderately' preterm, with a gestational age (GA) of 32-36 wk, and identify associations between sTfr and other hematological and biochemical iron indices.

Design: Hospital-based prospective, longitudinal study in preterm infants.