Blood copper levels in pregnant women in the first trimester as a prognostic feature of fetal wellbeing

Abstract The authors have performed 173 assays of the serum copper in 64 pregnant women and in 109 foetal blood samples taken at the time of delivery in an attempt to define an early indicator of a pathological process affecting the foetus, the pregnancy and the delivery. They observed a significant increase in the serum copper level during the first trimester of at risk pregnancies and the increased serum copper level is maintained from the start and throughout the pregnancy, in high risk pregnancies. The serum copper level therefore appears to be a good indicator of certain foetal, placental or maternal abnormalities, especially in high risk pregnancies.