Ceruloplasmin and copper level in maternal and cord blood and in the placenta in normal pregnancy and in pre-eclampsia.

Copper and ceruloplasmin were assayed in maternal and cord blood sera and in the placenta of 10 women with normal pregnancies, in 10 patients mild and 10 with severe pre-eclampsia. Copper and ceruloplasmin levels were significantly elevated in the maternal blood of pre-eclamptic patients as compared with normal pregnant women. The placental and cord blood concentrations of copper and ceruloplasmin showed non-significant changes, which indicates that their increase in the maternal blood is not of placental origin.