Plasma copper in foetal malnutrition.

Plasma copper in the cord blood of 20 small for gestational age (SGA) term infants was studied. Twenty-five appropriate for gestational age (AGA) term infants were taken as control and another group of 20 preterm AGA infants for comparison. The plasma concentration of copper in term SGA infants was significantly lower than values obtained for the controls, while there was no significant difference from the levels observed in preterm infants. This lowering in the plasma copper levels was possible because of decreased liver synthesis of caeruloplasmin as a result of foetal malnutrition. There was a marked foeto-maternal difference in the plasma copper levels in all three groups which was due to much higher levels of non-diffusible caeruloplasmin in the mothers compared to the neonates.