RESUMEN
The authors have shown recently that coeruloplasmin deficiency was associated with severe respiratory distress in premature neonates. In the present study they measured the serum cortisol and coeruloplasmin levels in 58 intrauterine growth retarded infants. The results were compared to the data of 44 appropriate for gestational age neonates. Both parameters showed association with the fetal distress in term babies (cortisol: 17.2 vs 12.3 ug/100 ml, coeruloplasmin: 29.7 vs 11.9 U/l). Coeruloplasmin activity was also higher in growth retarded prematures (48.5 vs 16.5 U/l), while cortisol concentration increased irrespective of intrauterine malnutrition. There was a significant positive correlation between serum cortisol and coeruloplasmin in dysmaturity. This is the first report suggesting a possible role for coeruloplasmin, an important extracellular antioxidant enzyme in the precocious development of intrauterine growth retarded infants.
Asunto(s)
Ceruloplasmina/análisis , Retardo del Crecimiento Fetal/sangre , Hidrocortisona/sangre , Humanos , Recién NacidoRESUMEN
The blood lead concentrations were measured in 38 pregnant women and their newborn babies in a high exposure area. The lead content of human milk was also determined on the 5th day after delivery. The blood lead concentrations were higher than 12 micrograms/100 ml in more than 80 per cent of the samples. The lead content of breast milk was also greater than those of published recently. We found a strong correlation between the blood lead levels of the mothers and the newborns. There was a moderate correlation between the lead concentrations in the blood and the breast milk.