Trace elements and blepharitis.
BACKGROUND
Investigating the relationship between the serum levels of zinc and copper with blepharitis.


METHODS
Twenty seven patients with blepharitis and 24 control group patients were evaluated for Schirmer, fluorescein break up time (FBUT) scores and serum levels of zinc and copper. Symptoms and clinical examination scores of blepharitis patients were also assessed.


RESULTS
The serum level of zinc (65.78+/-15.51 in patients with blepharitis and 65.71+/-10.43 in patients without blepharitis, normal values in the laboratory: 70-127 microg/dl) and copper (67.17+/-22.24 in patients with blepharitis and 69.35+/-14.44 in patients without blepharitis, normal values in the laboratory: 70-150 microg/dl) were not different between the two groups. The symptom and clinical examination scores of blephraritis patients were not correlated with the serum levels of either zinc or copper.


CONCLUSIONS
The zinc and copper levels in serum do not seem to be related to blepharitis. Their tear levels and sensory status of cornea should also be evaluated to better evaluate a possible relation.
Yülek
Fatma
F
SB Atatürk Eğitim ve Araştirma Hastanesi, Ankara, Turkey. fatmayulek@yahoo.com.tr
Cakmak
Hasan Basri
HB
Simşek
Saban
S
Serkant
Utku
U
Kösebalaban
Sebnem
S
D001762:Blepharitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
D014131:Trace Elements; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc