HAIR ZINC COMPARED WITH PLASMA ZINC IN UREMIC PATIENTS BEFORE AND DURING REGULAR HEMODIALYSIS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 12  (5) , 206-209
Abstract
Plasma and hair Zn concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 34 control subjects, 20 nondialyzed uremic patients and 18 patients treated with regular hemodialysis. Plasma Zn levels were low in both nondialyzed and hemodialyzed patients. Hair Zn levels were low in the nondialyzed uremics, but at least partially restored to normal in patients on hemodialysis. In both patient groups, hair Zn was positively correlated with plasma Zn. In the nondialyzed patients'' hair, Zn was negatively correlated with serum creatinine. Tissue Zn depletion in end-stage renal disease progresses with increasing degree of renal insufficiency and tends to be reversed by regular hemodialysis.