Wei S, Liu W, Qi Y, et al. - A variety of factors, including pathophysiological conditions and socioeconomic circumstances, have been associated with induction of spontaneous abortion, a common, detrimental outcome of pregnancy. There is lack of information concerning the disordered iron transportation between mother and fetus through the placenta in the aetiology of spontaneous abortion. In the current study, women who had spontaneous abortions during early pregnancy had iron homeostasis, as characterized by increased serum iron and hepcidin levels, and conversely, decreased serum erythroferrone (ERFE; a novel negative regulator of hepcidin) levels, compared to healthy control individuals and women with normal pregnancy. In comprehensive statistical analyses, the correlation between different variables and pregnancy status was identified, reflecting the pronounced diagnostic value of an elevated ratio of serum hepcidin and ERFE (HE ratio) in detecting adverse pregnancy status. Contrary to prior non‐selective discrete surrogates, such as iron, hepcidin and ferritin, the HE ratio may otherwise stand for a novel and more representative hallmark for early spontaneous abortion.