Serum Concentrations of Selected Heavy Metals in Patients with Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis from the Lublin Region in Eastern Poland.
According to the WHO report, alcohol is the third most significant health risk factor for the global population. There are contrary reports about heavy metals concentrations in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to investigate serum concentrations of selected heavy metals in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis living in the eastern part of Poland according to cirrhosis stage. The participants came from various hospitals of the Lublin region were enrolled. The study group included 46 male and 16 female patients. The control group consisted of 18 healthy individuals without liver disease. High Performance Ion Chromatography was used to determine the concentrations of metal ions (Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Mn, and Pb) in serum samples. The concentrations of copper, zinc, nickel, and cobalt were found to be significantly lower in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis compared to the control group. The serum concentration of cadmium was significantly higher in patients with advanced alcoholic liver cirrhosis compared to the control group. We hypothesize that disorders of metabolism of heavy metals seem to be the outcome of impaired digestion and absorption, which are common in cirrhosis, improper diet, environmental and occupational exposure.
Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 16, 20-081 Lublin, Poland. aprystup@wp.pl.
Andrzej
A
Prystupa
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chod&#378;ki 4a (Collegium Pharmaceuticum), 20-093 Lublin, Poland. anna.blazewicz@umlub.pl.
Anna
A
Błażewicz
Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 11, 20-081 Lublin, Poland. pawelkici@wp.pl.
Paweł
P
Kiciński
Department of Ethics and Human Philosophy, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 4/6 (Collegium Maximum), 20-059 Lublin, Poland. jareksak@tlen.pl.|Department of Nephrology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-954 Lublin, Poland. jareksak@tlen.pl.
Jarosław J
JJ
Sak
Individual Medical Practice, Lublin, Ludwika Hirszfelda 5/11, 20-092 Lublin, Poland. niedzialek.jarek@poczta.fm.
Jarosław
J
Niedziałek
Department of Nephrology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-954 Lublin, Poland. wtzaluska2@poczta.onet.pl.
Wojciech
W
Załuska
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland
D000393:Air Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy
alcohol; heavy metals; liver cirrhosis; microelements