title: Serum zinc and copper status in Iranian patients with pemphigus vulgaris.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of nutritional factors including trace elements has been reported in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Regarding the relatively high prevalence of pemphigus vulgaris in Iran, we investigated the serum levels of zinc and copper as two important trace elements, together with the oxidative stress status in patients with pemphigus vulgaris.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study was performed on 25 patients with newly diagnosed pemphigus vulgaris and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. Serum concentrations of zinc, copper, ceruloplasmin as well as copper/zinc ratio were determined for each subject. Oxidative stress was also measured using a novel assay of peroxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean serum concentrations of zinc and copper as well as copper/zinc ratio were significantly lower in patients (mean age: 47.2±16.2 years; male/female: 14/11) compared with the controls (mean age: 47.3±12.8 years; male/female: 14/11; P<0.001). In contrast, PAB values were significantly elevated in patients compared with controls (P<0.01). No significant difference in serum ceruloplasmin concentrations was observed between the groups (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that low serum zinc and copper and increased oxidative stress may be associated with pemphigus vulgaris.
authors: Research Center for Skin Diseases and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Department of Dermatology, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine.
authors: Mohammad Javad
authors: MJ
authors: Yazdanpanah
authors: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine.|Cardiovascular Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute.
authors: Majid
authors: M
authors: Ghayour-Mobarhan
authors: Health Center, Faculty of Medicine.
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Taji
authors: Research Center for Skin Diseases and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Department of Dermatology, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine.
authors: Zari
authors: Z
authors: Javidi
authors: Research Center for Skin Diseases and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Department of Dermatology, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine.
authors: Fakhrozaman
authors: F
authors: Pezeshkpoor
authors: Cardiovascular Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute.
authors: Shima
authors: S
authors: Tavallaie
authors: Research Center for Skin Diseases and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Department of Dermatology, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine.
authors: Akram
authors: A
authors: Momenzadeh
authors: Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, , Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Mashhad, Iran.
authors: Habibollah
authors: H
authors: Esmaili
authors: Research Center for Skin Diseases and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Department of Dermatology, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine.
authors: Saber
authors: S
authors: Shojaie-Noori
authors: Research Center for Skin Diseases and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Department of Dermatology, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine.
authors: Mohsen
authors: M
authors: Khoddami
authors: Cardiovascular Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute.
authors: Amirhossein
authors: A
authors: Sahebkar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000097:blood*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D002570:Ceruloplasmin; D015032:Zinc