[Study of serum copper and ceruloplasmin in the newborn (author's transl)].

Serum samples for copper and ceruloplasmin were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Peripheral blood samples from 30 children-bearing mothers and umbilical cord samples from their clinically normal full-term products were obtained. Mean serum copper for mothers was 216.23 +/- 49.44 mcg./dl. and that for newborns was 48.87 +/- 7.95 mcg./dl. (p less than 0.001). Maternal ceruloplasmin was 66.53 +/- 8.22 mcg./dl. while values for newborns were 11.6 +/- +/- 3.41 mcg./dl. (p less than 0.001). A significant difference (p less than 0.005) in ceruloplasmin values for newborns with a 38-40 week gestation and those with a 41-42 week gestation, were found. The results are compared with those reported in the literature.