[Carbon monoxide in mother and newborn infant from smoking during pregnancy].

COHb-values of 24 newborn infants investigated (cord blood) were higher altogether than the corresponding maternal concentrations (venous) at birth. COHb in percent of saturable Hb ranged from 0.3 to 0.7 in 10 infants of nonsmokers and from 0.8-11.9 in 14 infants of smokers. Correlations between maternal and infant COHb were statistically significant. At birth the mean infant/maternal COHb ratio was 2.5. The significant correlations between maternal COHb during pregnancy (32.-38. week) and infant COHb at birth (cord blood) is an indication for the predictive value of such tests.