[Dynamics of serum copper level in patients in the acute phase of hepatitis B and in early convalescence].
OBJECTIVE
Analysis of serum copper (Cu) level dynamics during the acute phase of hepatitis acute B and the early convalescence in compliance with gravity of the acute disease course.


METHODS
The study included 39 patients (12 men and 27 women), aged 18 to 76 years. They were hospitalised in the Department of Infectious Diseases of Medical Academy in Lublin because of the hepatitis acute B, without coexisting diseases. The diagnosis was based on the epidemiologic anamnesis, clinical symptoms, biochemical and serological examinations. The studied group was divided in respect to sex and the course of the disease as: light, medium-weighty and weighty. In all examined patients, the serum Cu level was determined according to the following scheme: at the first, tenth, twentieth and the last day of the hospitalisation and additionally one time at four weeks after discharging from the clinic. The serum Cu level was made by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) at the wave length of 324.8 nm. The received data were subjected to statistical analysis according to t-Student's test and in cases of significant differences according to the variants of c-Cochran and Cox's tests. According to the SI Unit Conversion Guide, the values 11.22 to 23.58 mumol/l were taken as the normal range. The values derived from the control group of 24 healthy persons (13 men and 11 women) aged 22 to 69 years.


RESULTS
The significant increase of serum Cu level in comparison with the control values was found both in the acute phase of hepatitis B and the early convalescence. It could be observed a correlation between serum Cu level and the course of hepatitis viralis acuta B.
Fota-Markowska
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Katedra i Klinika Chorób Zakaźnych Akademii Medycznej w Lublinie.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013997:Time Factors
D003300:Copper