FETAL AND MATERNAL SERUM COPPER LEVELS BEFORE AND DURING LABOR IN NORMAL AND COMPLICATED PREGNANCIES

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 57  (3) , 313-319
Abstract
The effect of labor on maternal serum Cu levels was determined in normal and complicated pregnancies. The mean value .+-. SD (3.16 .+-. 0.48 .mu.g/ml) in 82 clinically normal human subjects at term during labor was compared to that (2.22 .+-. 0.49 .mu.g/ml) obtained from 50 controls matched for gestational age who were not in labor. Mean value in labor (3.56 .+-. 0.46 .mu.g/ml) in 25 subjects with a complicated pregnancy was compared to that (2.87 .+-. 0.43 .mu.g/ml) obtained from 25 similar subjects prior to labor. A statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) was observed in both comparisons. Cu levels in the corresponding fetal serum from the subjects in labor (normal and complicated) were compared to those of the maternal serum samples. The mean value of fetal serum samples in mothers with complications was higher than that in normal mothers, but the difference was not statistically significant. This trend of a rise in serum Cu level during labor was further confirmed by analysis of the same subject during and before labor in normal (12 subjects) and complicated pregnancies (9 subjects). Maternal serum estriol and estetrol levels were determined from the same samples in the 4 groups to find a possible relationship with the corresponding Cu levels. No statistically significant correlation was noted. A possible explanation for the rise of the serum Cu level with the onset of labor and its clinical implications are also discussed.

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