Copper and Zinc Status in Patients with Preeclampsia in Bangladesh

This study assessed maternal serum copper and zinc levels in preeclampsia to find out the role of trace element disorder in the aetiology of preeclampsia. This cross sectional study was conducted in the dept of Physiology of BSMMU during 2009. Sixty patients of Preeclampsia (BP--140/90 aged 18-39 years, with >20th weeks of pregnancy with proteinuria and edema) participated. Thirty normotensive gravida was control. All subjects were collected from in and out patient department of Obstetric and Gynecology of BSMMU and Dhaka medical college hospital. Serum copper and zinc levels were measured by auto analyzer and atomic absorption sprectrophotometric method respectively. Data were compared between preeclampsia and normotensive pregnant women. Data were expressed as mean and SD and independent sample 't' test and two proportion 'z' test was used for statistical analysis. Mean value of maternal serum zinc (p<0.001) and copper (<0.01) levels were significantly decreased in preeclampsia. In addition Cu/Zn ratio was significantly higher (<0.01) in preeclampsia. Hypozincemia was found in 13% and hypocupremia was found in 38% of preeclampsia. The result of this study concludes that trace element disorders may be involved in the etiology of preeclampsia.