Copper and ceruloplasmin were assayed in maternal and cord blood sera and in the placenta of 10 women with normal pregnancies, in 10 patients mild and 10 with severe pre-eclampsia. Copper and ceruloplasmin levels were significantly elevated in the maternal blood of pre-eclamptic patients as compared with normal pregnant women. The placental and cord blood concentrations of copper and ceruloplasmin showed non-significant changes, which indicates that their increase in the maternal blood is not of placental origin.
The study was carried on 25 primigravidae with severe pre-eclamptic toxaemia (PET) and 19 normal pregnancies as a control group. 15 cases of PET were treated by 600 mg. progesterone daily for variable duration between one and six weeks. Daily blood samples were assayed for progesterone, dihydroprogesterone, estriol, estradiol, placental lactogen and prolactin. Under progesterone therapy there was a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, significant increase in urinary output, amelioration of the edema, slight reduction in weight gain, but no change in the proteinuria. Prolactin was the only hormone that showed significant rise in the group of PET when compared with normal pregnancy.
Colposcopic examination was done in 189 successive parturients within 6-48 h of delivery for evidence of type, site, and extent of cervical trauma and its relation to various obstetric factors. There was trauma in 66% of cases, as erosion in 79%, as laceration in 56%, as bruising in 30%, and as yellow areas in 17%. In about two-thirds of cases, the diameter of cervical erosion, or the length of laceration did not exceed 5 mm and 81% of lacerations were of first degree. Cervical injury was significantly more frequent in primiparae, in the anterior cervical lip, in occipito-posterior positions, and with premature rupture of membranes. In 117 parturients with cervical injury another colposcopic examination was done 6-8 weeks postpartum. In 8% there was residual cervical damage.
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