title: Significance of serum trace element status in patients with rheumatic heart disease: a prospective study.
abstract: It is known that certain trace elements can affect various heart diseases. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the changes in concentrations of certain serum trace elements in patients with chronic rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Serum analysis of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) trace elements was assayed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. RHD patients had significantly lower serum concentrations of Se and Zn than control subjects (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). However, the serum Cu concentration was significantly higher in RHD patients than in controls (1.93 +/- 0.59 microg/L vs 1.06 +/- 0.29 microg/L; p < 0.001). Similarly, the Cu/Zn ratio in RHD patients was higher than in control subjects (4.70 +/- 0.92 vs 1.68 +/- 0.45; p < 0.001). Additionally, no significant correlation was found among these trace element concentrations and the functional capacity classes (p > 0.05). RHD patients had decreased serum Se and Zn element concentrations and increased serum Cu element concentration. We suggest that Se and Zn deficiency might be contributory factors in the development of rheumatic heart disease, and a high Cu concentration and a high Cu/Zn ratio might reflect an ongoing inflammatory process in this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Inonu University, Faculty of Medicine, Turgut Ozal Medical Center, Malatya, Turkey. mferidunkosar@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Feridun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kosar
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Nusret
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Acikgöz
authors.forename: Yuksek
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.forename: Zehra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kucukbay
authors.forename: Sengul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cehreli
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000097:blood*; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000379:methods; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc