Distribution of Trace Elements and Minerals in Blood Plasma and Blood Cells in Patients with Chronic Virus Hepatitis C
Saulė Brašiškienė, Edita Gavelienė, Algimantas Irnius, Aivaras Kareiva, Stasys Tautkus
Introduction. Importance and role of various trace elements and minerals is well known, but not fully investigated in case of chronic liver diseases. We represent the distribution of trace elements and minerals in blood plasma and blood cells (erythrocites with leucocytes and platelets) in patients with chronic virus hepatitis C (VHC) and healthy persons.
Material and methods. The blood samples of 26 patients with chronic VHC and 26 healthy persons were investigated for the purpose to establish the concentrations of four trace elements and six minerals. Blood plasma was separated from blood cells by centrifugation and the amount of trace elements and minerals was determined by the flame atomic absorption spectroscopic (FAAS) method both in plasma and in blood cells.
Results. Statistically significant differences of the trace elements and minerals concentrations were found between two investigated groups. Visibly higher concentrations of Na, Mg, Fe, Cu and lower of K, Mg, Zn were found in blood plasma in patients with chronic VHC than in control group. In blood cells higher concentrations of Na, Cu, Pb and lower of K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cr were established in patients with VHC.
Conclusions. It is clinically important to follow the concentrations of the main trace elements and minerals (Fe, Zn, Cu) in blood plasma in patients with chronic VHC and dietary correction of them is suggested.
Keywords: trace elements and minerals, blood plasma, blood cells, chronic virus hepatitis.
