Analysis of serum trace elements-copper, manganese and zinc in preeclamptic pregnant women by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry: a prospective case controlled study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Preeclampsia complicates 2-8% of all pregnancies and is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and pre-term delivery in world. In concern to the increasing number of preeclamptic cases and lack of data about the interrelation between levels of trace elements and preeclampsia, we conducted a hospital based case-control study to assess the risk of preeclampsia in relation to concentrations of trace elements like copper, manganese and zinc in a hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study consisted of 120 pregnant women divided into three groups of 40 each - control, HR group and the PET group. The serum levels of Cu, Mn and Zn were estimated by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Analysis of trace elements revealed that mean values of Cu, Mn and Zn were 2.01 ± 0.43, 0.125 ± 0.07 and 1.30 ± 0.83 mg/L respectively in control. In preeclamptic group, the mean values of Cu, Mn and Zn were 1.554 ± 0.53, 0.072 ± 0.06 and 0.67 ± 0.59 mg/L respectively. Levels of Cu and Zn were found to decrease significantly (P < 0.001) in preeclamptic group compared to control. Pearsons correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between levels of Cu, Mn and Zn and systolic blood pressure. However the correlation of Cu, Mn and Zn with maternal age, gestational age, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure was statistically insignificant. In conclusion, our study suggests that preeclamptic patients have considerably lower levels of Cu, Mn and Zn compared to control and reduction in serum levels of copper, manganese, and zinc during pregnancy might be possible contributors in etiology of preeclampsia.