title: Altered serum levels of elements in acute leukemia cases in Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to compare serum concentrations of some elements [zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd) and cobalt (Co)] in acute leukemia patients with those of healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of newly diagnosed acute leukemia patients and the controls were matched for socioeconomic stauts and eating habits. The elements levels in the patient group were measured before treatment with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The selection criteria for the patients and controls were the lack of recent blood transfusion history and taking any medication with mineral supplement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The acute leukemia group composed of 42 patients and there were 40 persons in the control group. There was no difference between the age of the two groups (p=0.239). Serum levels of Zn, Mg and Mn were significantly lower with acute leukemia than in controls (p<0.001, p=0.011, p<0.001, respectively), while Cu, Pb and Cd were significantly elevated (p=0.003, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences regarding Co and Fe (p=0.323 and p=0.508, respectively)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, we found levels of Zn, Mg and Mn to be lowered and of Cu, Pb and Cd to be elevated in patients with leukemia. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of these elements in pathogenesis of acute leukemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Medical Faculty Yuzuncu Yil University, Turkey. drcengizdemir@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Halit
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Esen
authors.forename: Abidin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sehitogullari
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atmaca
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements