Maternal and cord blood lead levels in preterm deliveries compared to full term deliveries

الملخص EN

Blood lead and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels as well as complete blood count were determined in both maternal and cord blood in 40 women delivered preterm and 30 women delivered full term served as controls.

All women were drained from low socio-economic high lead polluted area (Bolak EL-Dakrour )and delivered at Bolak EL-Dakrour General hospital which serves mainly an indigent urban population of Cairo.

After delivery , all newborns were checked for gross congenital anomalies, Apgar scoring and birth weight.

It was found that the mean values of both blood lead and free erythrocyte protoprophyrin levels among women with preterm deliveries were higher than those of women with full term deliveries (33.4 ±8.11 versus 22.8 ± 4.31 ,u g/dl and 121.7 ±29.43 versus 99.7± 24.21 fi g/dl) respectively with statistically significant difference.

Similarly, the mean values of both cord blood lead and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels were higher among preterm babies than full term babies (13.9 ±4.61 versus 7.8 ±1.71 [i g/dl and 97.5±26.30 versus 79.2±1.8 H g/dl) respectively, with statistically significant difference.

A positive correlation was found only between maternal and cord blood lead levels in preterm deliveries.

A weak positive correlation was found between blood lead levels and neonatal weight in preterm deliveries while no correlation was found in full term deliveries.

No significant difference was found between maternal blood lead levels in rural area compared with urban area either in preterm or full term deliveries being slightly higher in urban area .

In conclusion : increased concentration of lead in maternal blood could act as trigger factor in women with a tendency to problem delivery resulting in an earlier delivery and small for gestatioral age babies .

Removing pregnant women from lead sources and calcium and antioxidant vitamins may provide sufficient protection for the fetus .