Analysis of serum trace elements-copper, manganese and zinc in preeclamptic pregnant women by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry: a prospective case controlled study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Preeclampsia complicates 2-8% of all pregnancies and is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and pre-term delivery in world. In concern to the increasing number of preeclamptic cases and lack of data about the interrelation between levels of trace elements and preeclampsia, we conducted a hospital based case-control study to assess the risk of preeclampsia in relation to concentrations of trace elements like copper, manganese and zinc in a hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study consisted of 120 pregnant women divided into three groups of 40 each--control, HR group and the PET group.