Serum selenium concentration in patients with Wilson's disease.
OBJECTIVE
Wilson's disease is a genetically determined disorder of copper metabolism in the liver. Due to the toxic accumulation of this trace element, body organs are damaged by free radical generation, lipid peroxidase and inhibition of synthesis of some proteins. Behavior of anti-oxidative factors in Wilson's disease has not been completely evaluated yet. The aim of the study was to assess blood serum concentrations of selenium in patients with Wilson's disease.


METHODS
Twenty-five patients with Wilson's disease and 30 healthy volunteers, constituting a control group were included in the study. The patients were in good clinical condition. In all the subjects blood serum concentrations of selenium were tested using the atomic absorption spectroscopy, hydride generation method.


RESULTS
Selenium concentrations in the blood serum of the patients and healthy controls did not show statistical differences between both groups. Correlations between selenium concentrations and biochemical parameters: activity of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, concentration of bilirubin, albumin and gamma globulin, international normalized prothrombin index as well as serum copper, ceruloplasmine and 24-h urine copper excretion were assessed. Statistically significant correlation was found only between selenium concentration and aspartate aminotransferase activity. No statistically significant differences between selenium concentrations in the serum of patients with different forms of Wilson's disease were found.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of the results obtained in the study it can be assumed that in treated patients with Wilson's disease the antioxidant status measured as serum selenium concentration is comparable to healthy controls.
Swiatkowska-Stodulska
Renata
R
Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Hemostatic Disorders, Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland. domixto@poczta.onet.pl
Dejneka
Wojciech
W
Jabłońska-Kaszewska
Irena
I
Lukasiak
Jerzy
J
Kiszkis
Hanna
H
Wiśniewski
Piotr
P
Lubińska
Monika
M
Sworczak
Krzysztof
K
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006527:Hepatolenticular Degeneration / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors
D000975:Antioxidants; D003300:Copper; D012643:Selenium