FILTERABLE SERUM CALCIUM IN LATE PREGNANT AND PARTURIENT WOMEN, AND IN THE NEWBORN

Abstract

Scrum protein, total scrum Ca, and filterable Ca were detd. in 8 healthy nonpregnant women. 18 normal women in the last month of pregnancy, and in 25 normal parturients at the time of delivery and in the cords of their babies immediately after birth. The average values for filterable serum Ca in each of the groups are constant. Reported % variations in filterable Ca are due primarily to changes in the total Ca. Average values for ionic serum Ca calculated from serum protein and total Ca by the method of McLean and Hastings agree reasonably with the determined filterable Ca in nonpregnant, late pregnant, and parturient women but not in newborn (cord blood), where the calculated ionic Ca is 20% higher than the determined filterable Ca.