Accumulation of scandium in plasma in patients with chronic renal failure.

Scandium (Sc) is an element with many industrial applications, but relatively little is known about its physiological and/or toxicological effects, and very little data are available concerning the role of Sc in chronic renal failure (CRF). This paper examines the changes in plasma levels of Sc in predialysis patients with CRF and the relationship with blood parameters. The participants in this trial were 48 patients with CRF in predialysis and 53 healthy controls. Erythrocyte, haemoglobin, and haematocrit counts in blood were determined, and levels of creatinine, urea, uric acid, albumin, total protein and Sc were measured in plasma. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault index. The CRF patients were found to have higher plasma levels of creatinine, urea, uric acid, albumin, total protein, and Sc and a lower GFR than that the controls. Scandium in plasma was positively correlated with creatinine and plasma urea and negatively correlated with GFR, haemoglobin, and haematocrit and was associated with the risk of lower levels of erythrocytes, haemoglobin, and haematocrit. CRF was associated with increases in the circulating levels of scandium.

Determination of trace elements in human whole blood by instrumental neutron activation analysis.

The trace element composition of whole blood has been investigated by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The blood samples of 80 individuals of adult population in Taiwan were analyzed. The samples were lyophilized, irradiated together with synthetic standards, and determined gamma-spectrometrically. The concentrations of 7 elements, Cr, Co, Fe, Rb, Sc, Se and Zn were simultaneously determined. The reliability of the analysis was checked with NBS bovine liver reference standard material. The frequency distributions of all the elements measured are presented and the results are compared with available data.