title: Serum selenium concentrations in cirrhotic children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Selenium is an essential trace element for humans. Plasma selenium concentration is decreased in adults with cirrhosis. We aimed to investigate the serum selenium concentration in cirrhotic children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The serum selenium concentration of 38 patients was determined by spectrofluorometric method. The results of the patients were compared with those of 41 age- and gender-matched healthy children. Correlations between the liver function tests, Child classes and serum selenium concentrations in cirrhotic children were also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum selenium concentration in cirrhotic children was significantly lower than that of controls (42.4 ± 8.2 μg/L vs 64.4 ± 16.9 μg/L, p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the serum selenium concentrations of cirrhotic children who were in Child-Pugh class A versus B+C (p>0.05). Except for serum aspartate aminotransferase level (Pearson coefficient = -0.34), there was no correlation between serum selenium concentration and liver function tests in cirrhotic children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum selenium concentration in cirrhotic children was found to be low; supportive selenium administration may be beneficial in cirrhotic children in appropriate cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Hacettepe University, School of Medicine, Ankara. nurayu74@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nuray
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uslu
authors.forename: Inci Nur
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Saltik-Temızel
authors.forename: Hülya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Demır
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gürakan
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozen
authors.forename: Aysel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yüce
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012643:Selenium