[Trace elements in amniotic fluid in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy]

The iron, copper, zinc and chromium content of the amniotic fluid was determined on the occasion of 56 deliveries in the 35th to 40th week of pregnancy and the following results were obtained: iron 32.1 +/- 32.6 microgram, copper 11.4 +/- 4.5 microgram, zinc 30.3 +/- 31.4 microgram, chromium 0.363 +/- 0.205. Simultaneously performed determinations revealed that the concentration of all the investigated trace elements was higher in the maternal and cord blood than in the amniotic fluid. The results were analysed according to the weight of the infant at birth and the pathologic events of delivery and compared to the results of other authors.