title: Level of neurotoxic metals in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A population-based case-control study.
abstract: The association between exposure to toxic metals and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was explored in a population-based case-control study in the Sardinia island (Italy), a region characterized by elevated rates of ALS cases. In 34 patients with ALS (mean age, 62 ± 10 years) and 30 controls (mean age, 65 ± 11 years), Al, Cd, Hg, Mn and Pb were determined in blood, hair and urine by sector field inductively coupled mass spectrometry. Results indicated that, in blood, concentrations of Al (p=0.045) and Pb were higher (p=0.026) in ALS patients than in control subjects. In hair, a depletion of Al (p=0.006) and Mn (p=0.032) concentrations in ALS subjects respect to controls was found. In urine, no significant differences between cases and controls were observed. Thus, some metals seemed to be associated with ALS degeneration, but a definitive conclusion is still far considering the multiple risk factors (genetic mutations, environmental toxicants and stressors) involved in the disease. Finally, the interpretation that deregulated metal concentrations can be a consequence of the degenerative process, rather than a cause, is also valid.
authors.affiliation: Italian National Institute for Health, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bocca
authors.affiliation: Italian National Institute for Health, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: giovanni.forte@iss.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forte
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences -Histology, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oggiano
authors.affiliation: Macomer Rehabilitation Center, Macomer, Italy.
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clemente
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences -Histology, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy; National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Yolande
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asara
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences -Histology, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peruzzu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences -Histology, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Farace
authors.affiliation: Ozieri Hospital, Ozieri, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pala
authors.affiliation: Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro Giuseppe
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Fois
authors.affiliation: Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pirina
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences -Histology, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy; National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madeddu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018672:Community Health Planning; D005260:Female; D000075322:Heavy Metal Poisoning; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D011041:Poisoning / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals
keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Blood; Hair; Metals; Motor neuron disease; Urine