Serum total and tartarate labile acid phosphatase activities and serum zinc content in chronic prostatic enlargement before and after local injection with zinc sulphate

ABSTRACT

In chronic prostatic enlargement, the local injection of two zinc sulphate doses, each of 0.5 ml of 1 percent aqueous sterile solution at 15 days intervals resulted in normalization of both serum total and tartarate labile acid phosphatase activities after being significantly elevated, and serum zinc level after being very highly decreased before treatment. Seven oral zinc acetate treatments, 10 mg daily showed less response as compared with local injection such a finding together with the amelioration of the clinical condition and subsidence of the unfavorable side complications, as well as shrinkage of the size of the prostate gland suggest a possible role of zinc deficiency in the development of the prostatic enlargement