A SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BIOCHEMICAL INDICES IN PERSONS EXPOSED TO MERCURY

Abstract

Introduction. Changes in biochemical indices characterizing the state of lipid peroxidation processes - antioxidant protection and lipid metabolism are observed during the occupational contact with mercury. These changes play a certain pathogenic role in the formation of disorders in the nervous system during mercury intoxication. In this regard, the aim was to study the relationship between biochemical indices at different stages of the development of mercury intoxication to justify approaches to therapeutic and preventive measures. Material and methods. A prospective cohort examination of persons exposed to the mercury vapor with signs of disorders in the nervous system, patients with chronic mercury intoxication and working in contact with mercury more than 5 years without signs of pathology was carried out. To study the relationship of features between biochemical indices, the sum of the square of correlation relations between the indices was calculated, the ranks of the influence of the system components on other factors and their dependencies were determined. Results. The decline in the level of nitric oxide metabolites was found to be one of the initial, long-term persisting in the pathogenesis of biochemical abnormalities, formed due to the contact with mercury. The development of the nervous system pathology under the mercury influence is accompanied by a change in the ratio of pro- and anti- oxidative processes, lipid metabolism disorders have an independent pathogenic significance. The long-term period of the chronic mercury intoxication is characterized by the formation of complex relationships in the biochemical system, the presence of several closed subsystems, which include nitrogen oxide metabolites. Conclusion. Given peculiarities of systemic interactions between biochemical indices, determining the role of certain factors in the overall system, as well as the presence/absence and composition of subsystems, pathogenic approaches to the correction of metabolic disorders at various stages of the mercury intoxication formation should be different.