[The spectrogram of trace elements in newborns and infants].

In 15 newborn infants and 34 sucklings the spectrogram of 25 cations in whole blood, serum and urine was determined by emission and atomic absorption spectrometry. The values ascertained by this method are tabulated and compared with the mean normal values of adults. Already known basic values are supplemented and the distribution patterns of not yet determined trace elements are demonstrated. Highly significant deviations from the normal values of adults were established in the whole blood of the newborn with regard to zinc, copper and chromium. The same differences became manifest when we compared materanal and infantile whole blood. In serum, on the contrary, no differences were observed. In urine, however, significant differences occured in numerous cations. The sucklings of the 1st trimenon showed highly significant deficits in manganese and copper values in whole blood.