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Iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy — DRCOG MCQ

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ModerateAntenatal CareIron deficiency anaemia in pregnancyDRCOG

A 28-year-old woman at 28 weeks is found to have haemoglobin 96 g/L on routine blood tests. Mean cell volume is low and she feels tired but is not breathless at rest. There is no known haemoglobinopathy. What is the most appropriate investigation?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: E — Serum ferritin

Microcytic anaemia in pregnancy should prompt assessment for iron deficiency, and ferritin is the key investigation. CA125 and cervical screening do not assess anaemia. D-dimer is not useful for this presentation. The pearl is that physiological haemodilution does not explain microcytosis and should not prevent investigating iron deficiency.

Reference: BCSH guideline on anaemia in pregnancy; NICE NG201