Arsenic trioxide affects the trace element balance in tissues in infected and healthy mice differently.
BACKGROUND
Acquired infections are common in cancer patients. As2O3 treatment and infections affect the body's trace element balance. However, it is unknown whether concomitant infections cause adverse element interactions that endanger the safety and therapeutic effect of As2O3.


METHODS
Coxsackievirus B3-infected mice were treated with 1.0 mg As2O3/kg bw for 3, 5 or 7 days. Arsenic, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc and selenium were measured (ICP-MS) in serum, heart, lung, liver, pancreas, kidney, intestine and brain. Virus in serum was followed by RT-PCR.


RESULTS
The infection increased As in all organs except the intestine, whereas selenium concentration decreased in all organs except the heart and brain. The infection markedly reduced magnesium in the heart.


CONCLUSIONS
As2O3 treatment results in pronounced differences in trace elements between healthy and infected individuals. This finding is important to consider, regarding treatment safety and efficacy, when As2O3 therapy is used in the clinical setting.
Molin
Ylva
Y
Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, S-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. ylva.molin@medsci.uu.se
Frisk
Peter
P
Ilbäck
Nils-Gunnar
NG