Cardiologie clinique et expérimentale
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Maternal-Fetal Outcomes of Hemochromatosis and Iron Supplementation in Pregnancy

Meaghan Delahunty1, Batoul Sadek2, Keval Yerigeri2*

Hemochromatosis, or pathologic iron overload, perpetuates a wide array of clinical manifestations due to cytotoxic iron deposition in various organ systems. The condition develops later in women due to iron loss during menses, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. Iron stores in pregnancy are naturally diluted by blood volume expansion; however, iron overload from genetic predisposition or iron over-supplementation is still possible and carries similar risks to iron deficiency in pregnancy. This mini review examines current understanding of the effects of iron overload in pregnancy on maternal and fetal outcomes. Evolving evidence suggests that adverse maternal outcomes include preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus. Adverse neonatal outcomes include increased risk for neurocognitive deficits and later development of T1DM. These findings call into question the universal recommendations for iron supplementation in pregnancy, especially in pregnant women with iron-sufficiency or predisposition to overload.