Are serum levels of trace elements in children with auditory neuropathy within normal limits? - A pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether trace elements that are essential for neural function play a role in the pathophysiology and etiology of auditory neuropathy (AN).


METHODS
Patients diagnosed with auditory neuropathy consisted of eight children (two male, six female). The blood tests including the measurement of sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper and magnesium were done in children with AN during their routine care.


RESULTS
Of the eight children with AN, many had serum levels outside the normal range: one had low sodium, two had low potassium, one had low chloride, two had high zinc and three had low zinc, two had low calcium and two had higher than normal phosphorus.


CONCLUSIONS
Although some serum trace element levels in our patients were higher or lower than normal values, the mean values were within normal limits. Thus, we were unable to detect a relationship between serum trace element levels and AN-. In the future, larger studies should be conducted to confirm these findings.
Kirikkale University, Faculty of Medicine, ENT Department, Kirikkale, Turkey. nbayarmuluk@yahoo.com
Nuray Bayar
NB
Muluk
Fulya
F
Yalçinkaya
Osman Kürşat
OK
Arikan
Ozden
O
Cirpar
Sedat
S
Kaygusuz
Varol
V
Ercan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001304:Auditory Diseases, Central / Q000097:blood*; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D014131:Trace Elements