Comparison of serum zinc level in pregnant women with preeclampsia or eclampsia and healthy subjects, a case-control study

Due to the increasing prevalence of preeclampsia and eclampsia syndrome and itchr('39')s multifactorial nature and the relationship between zinc and this syndrome, this study was designed to compare serum zinc level in pregnant women with preeclampsia or eclampsia and healthy in Ali Ibn Abitaleb Hospital in Zahedan.

In a case-control study, 50 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia or eclampsia and 50 healthy pregnant women were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria by convenient sampling method, 2019. After recording demographic and clinical characteristics in each questionnaire in two groups, 3 ml of blood was taken from each person. Serum zinc was determined by atomic absorption, spectrophotometry. Quantitative and qualitative data were described and analyzed as independent t-test by SPSS software: 16

The results showed that the mean serum zinc level was not significantly different between the case and control groups, but the frequency of serum zinc deficiency in the case group was higher than the control (P< 0.01). In pregnant women with a gestational age of 34 weeks and more, the serum zinc in the case group was lower than control (P=0.04). In addition, hypertension in healthy pregnant women is associated with serum zinc levels. Complications such as pre-hypertension, proteinuria, and abortion were more common in case group (P< 0.05).

Findings indicate that although the mean serum zinc in the two groups was not significantly different, but the frequency of serum zinc deficiency was higher in the case group. Nevertheless, screening for serum zinc deficiency and its treatment along with other diagnostic and clinical methods can be effective in ensuring health and preventing preeclampsia or eclampsia in pregnancy.