Copper and zinc in pre-eclampsia.

Twenty uncomplicated pregnancies, 10 parturients with mild and 10 parturients with severe pre-eclampsia, all with uncomplicated deliveries, were studied. Maternal and umbilical cord serum were checked for copper and zinc by the proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) method; maternal serum protein, hemoglobin and estriol were determined as well. Maternal zinc and copper values were lower, whereas the umbilical cord serum copper level was higher in the group with severe pre-eclampsia as compared with the controls. Maternal zinc was also lower in mild pre-eclampsia than in the controls. The possible causes of these changes are discussed in view of the hormonal, metabolic and enzymatic changes in pre-eclampsia.