title: Serum nickel, copper and zinc in Norplant users.
abstract: Changes in serum nickel, copper and zinc were evaluated in 45 Norplant users. Two groups were selected for this study. Group I included 15 regularly menstruating females as controls and as short-term users (90 days after Norplant insertion). Group II included 30 Norplant users for one year or more as long-term users. These elements were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Serum nickel showed no significant change in short-term nor in long-term users when compared to the control group or to each other. Serum copper and zinc revealed a significant increase in short-term users for a short period of time, which returned to normal levels in long-term users. There was disappearance of the cyclic changes in serum copper and zinc concentrations on comparing their levels in ovulatory to non-ovulatory Norplant users. The use of Norplant has no deleterious effects on serum levels of nickel, copper and zinc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toppozada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zahran
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ghanem
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kholeif
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000858:Anovulation; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D008598:Menstruation; D009532:Nickel / Q000097:blood*; D010060:Ovulation; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013997:Time Factors; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D011374:Progesterone; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D003300:Copper; D009532:Nickel; D015032:Zinc