role of calcium, magnesium, and trace elements zinc and copper in preterm labour and prelabour spontaneous rupture of membranes

ABSTRACT

This work was conducted on 60 pregnant women. Twenty full term normal pregnant women without premature rupture of membranes and with true labour pains [as a control group], 20 pregnant women with preterm labour and 20 full term pregnant women with prelabour spontaneous rupture of membranes. This work was done to study the relationship and role of calcium. magnesium and the trace elements, zinc and copper in pregnant women with preterm labour and those with premature spontaneous rupture of membranes. Maternal serum levels of calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper were measured in the three groups. In addition, their levels were also measured in the foetal membrane in cases with prelabour spontaneous rupture of membranes and the control group. The maternal serum levels of calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper, were statistically significantly decreased in cases with prelabour spontaneous rupture of membranes compared with the control group. Also a significant decrease in maternal serum levels of calcium, magnesium and zinc was found in cases with preterm labour compared with the control group, but there was no statistical significant change in the serum copper levels. The foetal membrane levels of calcium, magnesium and copper, were significantly decreased in cases with prelabour spontaneous rupture of membranes compared with the control group, but the foetal membrane zinc showed no significant decrease