Original scientific paper
Serum Concentration of Zinc, Copper, Manganese and Magnesium in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis
Dario Rahelić
Milan Kujundžić
Željko Romić
Kristina Brkić
Mladen Petrovečki
Abstract
The role of trace elements in the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis and its complications is still not clearly understood.
Serum concentrations of zinc, copper, manganese and magnesium were determined in 105 patients with alcoholic liver
cirrhosis and 50 healthy subjects by means of plasma sequential spectrophotometer. Serum concentrations of zinc were
significantly lower (median 0.82 vs. 11.22 mol/L, p<0.001) in patients with liver cirrhosis in comparison to controls.
Serum concentrations of copper were significantly higher in patients with liver cirrhosis (median 21.56 vs. 13.09 mol/L,
p<0.001) as well as manganese (2.50 vs. 0.02 mol/L, p<0.001). The concentration of magnesium was not significantly
different between patients with liver cirrhosis and controls (0.94 vs. 0.88 mmol/L, p=0.132). There were no differences in
the concentrations of zinc, copper, manganese and magnesium between male and female patients with liver cirrhosis.
Only manganese concentration was significantly different between Child-Pugh groups (p=0.036). Zinc concentration
was significantly lower in patients with hepatic encephalopathy in comparison to cirrhotic patients without encephalopathy
(0.54 vs. 0.96 mol/L, p=0.002). The correction of trace elements concentrations might have a beneficial effect on
complications and maybe progression of liver cirrhosis. It would be recommendable to provide analysis of trace elements
as a routine.
Keywords
zinc; copper; manganese; magnesium; liver cirrhosis; trace elements
Hrčak ID:
27596
URI
Publication date:
12.5.2006.
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