title: Serum zinc and copper levels in some dermatological diseases.
abstract: Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are essential metals for biochemical processes in the body. Many researchers have main interest in these two metals because it was establish that they are involved in immunological and inflammatory reactions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study comprised 49 patients of Dermatology Clinic from Iaşi with different skin diseases (21 with psoriasis and 28 with varicose ulcer), during January - May 2006. The patients, both sexes, had ages between 19 and 81 years old. We determined serum Zn and Cu levels by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results were expressed in mg/L and we calculated Cu/Zn ratio, too; the values were compared with 50 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In psoriasis, serum Zn and Cu mean levels (5.61 mg/L, respectively 1.27 mg/L) were higher as compared to controls (significance level p=0.04); the mean Cu/Zn ratio was 0.81 in psoriasis and 0.96 in control group. In varicose ulcer, mean levels were significantly increased (Zn-7.62 mg/L, Cu- 1.38 mg/L) compared to control group (Zn-0.81 mg/L, Cu-0.75 mg/L) and serum normal values; the mean Cu/Zn ratio was 1.00. 18 of all patients with psoriasis and varicose ulcer had higher serum Zn and Cu levels than normal values.
authors.affiliation: Gr.T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iaşi, School of Pharmacy, Department of Toxicology.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Butnaru
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pascu
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mircea
authors.forename: Luminiţa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Agoroaei
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Solovăstru
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vâţă
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Butnaru
authors.forename: Zenaida
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Petrescu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc