SERUM ZINC VALUES AND ANKLE BRACHIAL INDEX IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: Atherosclerosis is accelerated in hemodialysis patients. There is a proposed link between Zinc level and atherosclerosis, but this relationship remains unclear. The aim of our study was to determine a possible relationship between serum Zinc values and ankle-brachial index as a non-invasive diagnostic marker for atherosclerosis in chronic hemodialysis patients. Design and method: 62 hemodialysis patients were enrolled in our study (mean age 61.2 ± 13.8 years, ranged from 30 to 85 years). The ankle-brachial index was determined using a non-invasive, automated ankle- brachial index measuring device (ABPI MD, MESI®, Slovenia), based on oscillometric method. Serum Zinc values were measured by standard laboratory methods. The patients were divided into two groups using the median value of Zinc (14.1 mcmol/l) as a cut-off. Results: The Zinc values ranged from 9.2 to 23.5 mcmol/l and the ankle-brachial index values ranged from 0.8 to 1.4; majority of enrolled patients (82.3%) had arterial hypertension, 15 (24.2%) patients had diabetes and 23 (37.1%) of them were smokers or ex-smokers. Using t-test statistically significant difference of ankle-brachial index values between the groups was found (p = 0.036). The patients with lower Zinc values had lower ankle-brachial index. Conclusions: The results of our study showed that lower serum Zinc levels are associated with lower ankle- brachial index in hemodialysis patients.