title: Variation of trace element concentrations in patients undergoing hemodialysis in the north of Spain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trace elements are essential substances for the proper physiological and biochemical functioning of the organism. Hemodialysis patients are potentially at risk of deficiency or excess of these elements. The application of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) allows the simultaneous quantification of very small amounts of multiple trace elements. The aim was to measure the serum concentration of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), and nickel (Ni), and the whole blood concentration of arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and manganese (Mn), in patients undergoing hemodialysis as well as in controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out in 57 hemodialysis patients compared with 57 controls with normal renal function. Serum and whole blood samples from the dialysis group were collected before and after hemodialysis sessions and Cu, Zn, Se, Ni, As, Pb and Mn levels were determined using ICP-MS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hemodialysis patients showed significantly lower blood levels of Cu, Zn and Se than controls (p < 0.001) and higher concentrations of Ni, As and Pb (p < 0.0001). The levels of Mn were similar in both groups. After performing hemodialysis, Cu, Zn, Se and Ni concentrations were significantly higher than the pre-hemodialysis levels (p < 0.0001). However, the concentration of As decreased (p < 0.0001) and Pb and Mn levels were not significantly altered after the dialysis session.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hemodialysis patients are at increased risk of trace elements deficiency (especially for Zn and Se) or excess (Ni) in respect to healthy subjects. Monitoring of blood levels and supplementation of some trace elements may be indicated in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Laboratory of Medicine, Trace Elements Laboratory , Hospital Universitario Central De Asturias , Oviedo , Spain ;
authors.forename: Constanza
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gómez de Oña
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Laboratory of Medicine, Trace Elements Laboratory , Hospital Universitario Central De Asturias , Oviedo , Spain ;
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez-Morillo
authors.affiliation: b Hemodialysis Unit, Clinical Management Area of Nephrology , Hospital Universitario Central De Asturias , Oviedo , Spain.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gago González
authors.affiliation: b Hemodialysis Unit, Clinical Management Area of Nephrology , Hospital Universitario Central De Asturias , Oviedo , Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vidau Argüelles
authors.affiliation: b Hemodialysis Unit, Clinical Management Area of Nephrology , Hospital Universitario Central De Asturias , Oviedo , Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández Merayo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Laboratory of Medicine, Trace Elements Laboratory , Hospital Universitario Central De Asturias , Oviedo , Spain ;
authors.forename: Francisco V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Álvarez Menéndez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001151:Arsenic / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009532:Nickel / Q000097:blood; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood; D013030:Spain; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014131:Trace Elements; D007854:Lead; D008345:Manganese; D003300:Copper; D009532:Nickel; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Hemodialysis; mass spectrometry; toxic metals; trace elements