Plasma zinc, copper and copper/zinc ratio in intrinsic asthma.

Plasma zinc and copper levels and copper/zinc ratio of 22 intrinsic asthma patients were compared to that of 33 healthy control subjects. Five of the intrinsic asthma patients were aspirin (ASA) intolerant. The zinc content of plasma was found to be significantly lower in patients than in control individuals with the values being 0.80 +/- 0.01 mg/L versus 0.89 +/- 0.02 mg/L, while the plasma copper level and copper/zinc ratio were significantly higher in the asthma group than in the control group, with the values being 1.28 +/- 0.03 mg/L and 1.61 +/- 0.04 versus 1.06 +/- 0.02 mg/L and 1.21 +/- 0.02, respectively (mean +/- SE). The role of the essential trace elements zinc and copper and cytokines in the pathogenesis of asthma is discussed.