The Role of Trace Elements in Uremic Heart Failure

Abstract
In a postmortem study of 8 uremic patients (mean age 63.0), the concentration of 23 trace elements was determined in heart tissue with neutron activation analysis. The concentration was significantly increased in 10 elements – e.g. Co (p < 0.001), As, Br, Ce, La, Sb, Sc (p < 0.01), Fe, K and P (p < 0.05) – compared to a control group of non-uremic individuals. As some of these elements are cardiotoxic, the results support our opinion that an excess of certain trace elements, cobalt in particular, may be etiological agents of importance in uremic heart failure.