muramidase and Fetal-Growth-Retardation

Intrauterine foetal growth retardation (IUGR) implies increased risk of morbidity and mortality of the newborn. Aetiology of intrauterine retardation is probably multifactorial and may include maternal infection, malnutrition, placental dysfunction, hypertension, toxaemia, smoking, professional and environmental exposure. The work concentrates on the lead, zinc and lysozyme levels in blood and placental tissues of 50 females in the IUGR group and 43 females from a control group. Statistically significant differences in zinc and lead levels between the compared group were found. The IUGR group had lower zinc and higher lead levels. A significant negative correlation of zinc and lead levels was observed. We found a statistically significant relationship between lead levels in placental tissues and the age of the pregnant women. Higher age is associated with higher lead levels in placental tissue, whereas zinc levels decrease. In placental tissues of pregnant females of the IUGR group higher lysozyme levels were found. On the basis of the discussed results the authors recommend zinc supplementation during the pregnancy.

Topics: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Humans; Lead; Muramidase; Placenta; Pregnancy; Zinc

In a group of women who gave birth to a foetus with marked growth retardation and 27 women who were delivered of eutrophic neonates the lead, cadmium, zinc and lysozyme levels in placental tissue were assessed. The investigation revealed the following results: the lead level was in the investigated group significantly higher than in the control group (15.24 ng/g vs. 11.31 ng/g). Conversely the zinc levels were significantly higher in the control group (20.52 micrograms/g vs. 14.3 micrograms/g of placental tissue). The lead, cadmium and lysozyme values rise with the womens' age in the examined placentae, while the zinc levels decline. With the elevated zinc level the lead and cadmium content in the placentae of the exposed group declines. The lysozyme values increase along with the rise of all investigated elements with the exception of zinc, where the dynamics are reversed. The findings justify the recommendation of zinc supplementation during pregnancy.

Topics: Adult; Cadmium; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Humans; Lead; Metals; Muramidase; Placenta; Pregnancy; Zinc