Trace elements in patients with acute cerebrovascular diseases

ABSTRACT

Free radical oxidation stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases including stroke. Since trace elements act as cofactors for a variety of antioxidant enzymes, we decided to study the status of Copper. Zinc and Manganese in patients with acute cerebrovascular accidents. 45 patients [30 with cerebral infarction [CL] and 15 with cerebral haemorrhage [CH] and 44 control [C] were included in the study. Serum trace elements Cu. Zn and Mn were estimated using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Routine liver and kidney function tests, pH, serum bicarbonate and random blood glucose were estimated for both patients and control CT scans were done for all patients. Patients with Cl and CH had significantly lower serum Cu, Zn and Mn than the control [P < 0.0001]. Patients with Cl tended to have higher serum Cu an Zn levels than those with CH, but the differences did not reach statistical significance [P > 0.05]. Serum Manganese concentrations were below detection Limit in either Cl or CH while in the control they ranged from 0.04-0.2 Ug/mI. Strong positive correlations were found between serum Cu and prothombin activity [r= 0.38. P < 0.009] and serum Zn and creatinine levels [r = 0.44, P < 0.002] in the whole cases with acute cerebrovascular accidents versus control. Trace elements involved in the antioxidant defense system are reduced in patients with acute cerebrovascular accidents. Replenishment of the deficient elements may help reduce the size of infarction and accordingly the functional disability in patients with strokes