Abstract:

Serum zinc and copper levels and erythrocyte zinc contents were studied and a series of 49 randomly chosen patients on maintenance hemodialysis program. All patients were suffering of end stage renal disease for which they were referred to the hemodialysis center. Upon arrival their mean blood urea nitrogen was above 150 g/dl, serum creatinine levels over 10 mg and creatinine learance less than 10 ml/min. They were on a specified diet containing 40-50 gr protein per day. Their mean serum zinc levels were found 60.69±1.21 g/dl, erythrocyte zinc content 1175.28±55.88 g/dl 1010 erythrocyte zinc content 11.29±0.24 g/dl and serum copper levels 88.43±3.36 g/dl. Each of these figures were significantly below those of a group of normal control subjects (p<0.05). A striking similarity between zinc deficiency symptoms and the complaints of these patients develop on maintenance hemodialysis program (anemia, loss of weight, neuropathy, arthropathy, gonadal dysfunctions alopecia, nail dystrophy) has been observed and its significance discussed.

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