[The copper concentration in the maternal serum in missed abortion]

Two groups of women with missed abortion examined in different periods of time were included in the study--the first group of 43 patients was examined in 1989-1990 and the second group of 24 in 1994. The control group consist of 73 women in the first trimester of normal pregnancy and 75 nonpregnant women. The serum copper concentration of the first group with missed abortion (19.47 +/- 4.62 mumol/l) was significantly (p < 0.001) lower than those of control group with normal pregnancy (23.40 +/- 5.10 mumol/l). The serum concentration of the second group with missed abortion was even lower--17.82 +/- 2.95 mumol/l. The serum copper level was measured directly with flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The histology reveals dystrophic and necrotic changes and also inflammatory changes with edema of chorion villi without enhanced collagenisation. We discuss the possible mechanisms of the observed changes.