RESUMO
Abnormalities of zinc metabolism are well documented in patients with chronic renal disease. We aim to study changes in serum zinc level in children with nephrotic syndrome [NS]. A hospital based case control study conducted in pediatric nephrology clinic inAl-Kadhymia Teaching Hospital for the period between I January 2010 to 31 October 2010. Forty children with NS were studied. Patients were divided into two groups: 24 patients with relapse [with proteinuria] constitute group A, and 16 patients with remission [without proteinuria] were in group B. Both groups were further subdivided into subgroups according to treatment with or without corticosteroid. Control group consisted of 40 healthy children. Serum and urine albumin was measured for all children. Serum zinc level was estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Patients aged 2-14 years, girls were 23 and boys were 17. Patients maintained a significant low serum albumin level in group A which was normalized in group B. The mean serum zinc level in group A 57.2 +/- 15.286 microg/dl, was significantly lower than that of controls 96.2 +/- 7.501 microg/dl. An increase in the level was observed in group B, however still significantly lower from that of controls. Low serum zinc level was noted in all treatment groups with or without steroid therapy. The serum zinc-albumin ratio in group B, 1.6260 +/- 0.28864 microg/g was significantly lower than controls. These changes reflect actual lower zinc level in spite of normal serum albumin. Zinc deficiency is present in children with NS, both during relapse and remission. Both serum albumin and corticosteroid had no effect on low serum zinc levels in children with NS. Other probable factors for hypozincemia need to be highlighted in further studies