Abstract
Decreased kidney function can accumulate trace elements. Increased trace elements can have toxic features. On the other hand, studies are showing that concentration of some trace elements could be decreased in chronic kidney disease patients as well. Because these patients are at risk for alterations of trace elements, we measured serum level of zinc and copper trace elements in hemodialysis patients and compare it with the control group. We analyzed the trace elements' copper and zinc concentration in the whole blood of 52 ESRD patients who were treated with hemodialysis as case group and also of 52 age and sex matched healthy people as control group. Whole blood trace element concentration was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The serum concentrations of zinc and copper were significantly lower in case group compared to control group. The serum concentration of zinc and copper trace elements in end-stage renal failure patients is disturbed. Due to the discrepancy in findings of different studies, further studies in large scale are recommended to determine the serum concentration of trace elements in these patients.
Highlights
Uremia is recognized by functional and biochemical disturbances that are primarily a result of reduced kidney capacity to clear body from organic solutes
The serum concentrations of zinc and copper were significantly lower in case group compared to control group (Table 1)
Our data shows that the decreasing amounts of the trace elements copper and zinc in blood levels is observed for hemodialysis patients, in comparison with healthy people
Summary
Uremia is recognized by functional and biochemical disturbances that are primarily a result of reduced kidney capacity to clear body from organic solutes. Most studies on uremic toxicity have focused on retention and removal of these organic compounds. Subtle changes in the concentrations of inorganic compounds, including trace elements, may cause functional or biochemical disturbances (Vanholder et al, 2002; Prodanchuk et al, 2013). In End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients, different factors affect whole blood and serum level of trace elements, such as increased oral intake, failure of renal excretion, grade of renal failure and metabolic changesrelated with renal failure (Miura et al, 2002). Dialysis is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disease and infection (Henderson and Beans, 1978)
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