[Prolonged pregnancy and trace elements: iron].

Iron is an essential trace element and it is well known that the iron requirement steadily increase during pregnancy. The aim of this investigation was to compare the serum iron levels in normal and serotine pregnancy. Twenty-six women with serotine pregnancy (19 in 42 and 7 in 43 gestation week (g.w.)) were included in the study. The control group is consisted from 74 women with normal pregnancy. The serum iron concentration is elevated in the women with serotine pregnancy (24.59 +/- 11.60 mmol/(l), but the difference was not significant. The group with serotine pregnancy in 42 g.w. has even lower serum iron concentration than the women with normal pregnancy (19.44 +/- 6.52 mmol(l). The serum iron concentration was significantly elevated (p < 0.001) in serotine pregnancy in 43 g.w. compared with normal pregnancy as well as with serotine pregnancy in 43 g.w. The possible pathogenetic mechanisms of the observed changes are discussed.