The Effect of Bucillamine of Trace Element Levels of Hair in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis / 대한류마티스학회지

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the changes of trace element levels in hair of patients with rheumatoid arthritis after bucillamine treatment. METHODS: We performed inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry in determination of trace element levels in hair of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) There was a significant increase of copper concentration, but no change in zinc level after bucillamine treatment. 2) There were no significant changes in copper and zinc concentrations between the proximal and distal portions of hair after long-term bucillamine treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed the significant increase of copper level and no significant change of zinc level in hair after bucillamine treatment, but, although statistically not significant, copper and zinc levels were decreased on experiment with divided hair. So, our findings do not permit any conclusion on the influence of bucillamine on trace element levels in hair. Further studies in large samples and comparison with the effect of D-penicillamine will be necessary to clarify the association of trace element levels in hair of rheumatoid arthritis patients and bucillamine treatment.

Trace Element Levels In Hair As An Indicator For Disease Activity Of Rheumatoid Arthritis / 대한류마티스학회지

OBJECTIVE: Zinc and copper are the second and third most abundant trace elements following iron in the human body. Zinc and copper have important effects on humoral and cell-mediated immunity. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, it has been reported that serum zinc level is decreased and seurm copper level increased. But no reports are available for the trace element level of hair in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We studied to investigate the significance of trace element level of hair in rheumatoid arthritis patients, particularly its relation to disease activity. METHODS: The trace element level of hair was estimated in 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 22 osteoarthritis patients by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and was investigate the correlation to various disease activity indices of rheumatoid arthritis. RESULTS:The results were as follows: 1) There was no significant difference in either the zinc or copper level in hair between patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. 2) No correlation was observed between the zinc or copper level in hair and age or disease duration for rheumatoid arthritis patients. 3) Zinc and copper levels of hair did not correlate with various indices of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients. CONCLUSIONS: Zinc and copper levels of hair in rheumatoid arthritis patients were not different from those of osteoarthritis and did not correlate with disease activity indices. Studies on the effect of antirheumatic drug therapy on trace element level of hair are necessary.