Relationship between serum zinc level in early second trimester of pregnancy and preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is potentially life-threatening and as a dangerous complication of pregnancy. This study was performed to assess the relationship between serum zinc level and preeclampsia. This analytical and prospective study was conducted on 1033 pregnant women who referred to prenatal clinics of Tehran city. Demographic questionnaire and reproductive history was completed and also a venous blood sample was taken from all the pregnant women upon entry. Preeclampsia was defined as blood pressure equal or more than 140/90 mmHg along with proteinuria after 20th week of pregnancy. Data was analyzed using SPSS16 software and independent samples t-test. The incidence of preeclampsia was 1. 9 %. Mean serum zinc level was 116. 6±95. 7 µg/dl. In 27. 4% of samples، the zinc serum level was lower than 51µg/dl and the zinc serum level of 72. 6% of samples was at normal range. The independent samples t-test showed that there was a significant relationship between maternal serum zinc level and preeclampsia as the mean serum zinc level in pregnant women with preeclampsia was lower than normal pregnant women. The results showed that serum zinc level is associated with preeclampsia.