Ionized calcium levels in umbilical cord blood of women with preeclampsia and normotensive pregnancies

Abstract

Calcium is essential for normal fetal growth and development. During intrauterine life, the fetus is entirely dependent on the mother and a normally functioning placenta for calcium accretion. Preeclampsia is associated with abnormal calcium metabolism and placental dysfunction. The objective of our study was to investigate ionized calcium levels in the umbilical cord arterial blood of women with preeclampsia and normotensive pregnancies. There were 24 women in the preeclampsia group and 25 in the normotensive group. There was no difference in the cord pH and fetal growth restriction between the two groups. Ionized calcium levels were significantly lower in the preeclampsia group (p < 0.001). Our results emphasize the need for further studies on the calcium status of infants born to mothers with preeclampsia.

Keywords::

• Placenta
• vitamin D
• fetus
• fetal growth restriction
• bone

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Tak S. Fung, PhD, Senior Mathematical/Statistical Consultant, Information Technologies, University of Calgary for assistance with statistical analysis.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare they have no conflict of interest, real or perceived. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.