Essential metal and immunoglobulin levels in women and neonates with PROM.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the essential metals' levels in the blood of both mothers and neonates with premature rupture of the fetal membranes and to examine the changes produced by PROM in immunoglobulins' concentrations. Metals' levels in blood samples were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while the quantitative estimation of the immune proteins in both maternal and umbilical blood sera was performed by a single radial immunodiffusion. Zinc level in blood samples of mothers from the examined group was significant lower than this one evaluated in controls while the other concentrations of metals did not differ significant. We found the significant higher level of cord blood IgA in neonates from PROM+ group comparing with the PROM- group. Low zinc level in maternal blood which was found in examined PROM+ group might suggest that it constitutes one of the causes leading premature rupture of the fetal membranes. The response of the humoral immune system in PROM+ neonates seems to be stimulated by the premature rupture of the fetal membranes.