title: Serum levels of ochratoxin A in healthy subjects and in nephropathic patients in Tunisia.
abstract: Ochratoxin A is a fungal toxin produced by Aspergillus and Penicillinium. These Fungi oftenly contaminate plant-derived products, and can generate deleterious toxic effects in man. In this study, ochratoxin A was determined in human serum samples collected in Tunisia, using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and fluorescence detection. The samples were collected from healthy subjects (n = 105) as well as from patients with various kidney disorders. Five different kinds of kidney disorders were represented: transplanted subjects (27), patients with Chronic Interstitial Nephropathy (22) of known etiology, Chronic Vascular Nephropathy (26), Chronic Glomerular Nephropathy (26) or Chronic Interstitial Nephropathy (30) of unknown etiology. Mean concentrations of ochratoxin A in the healthy group was 0.49+/-0.79 ng/mL. The highest mean concentration of ochratoxin A was found in group of Chronic Interstitial Nephropathy of unknown etiology 1.25+/-1.22 ng/mL. Significant differences were also observed according to the geographic origin of healthy subjects and nephropthic patients within Tunisia.
authors.affiliation: Department of biochemistry, Military hospital of Tunis, Montfleury, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hmaissia Khlifa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghali
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mezigh
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Aouni
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghorbel
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harrzallah
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Machgoul
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hedhili
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000097:blood*; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D009793:Ochratoxins; C025589:ochratoxin A