Serum Zinc and Copper levels in nephrotic syndrome patients

Objective: to determine the serum zinc and copper levels in patients of nephrotic syndrome and healthy subjects. methodology: forty patients of nephrotic syndrome, fulfilling the pentad criteria (proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, hyperlipiduria and edema) were included in this study. proteinuria was more than 3.5g per 24 hour in adults and more than 1000 mg/m2 in children. ten healthy subjects were included as control. patients on dialysis, pregnancy and with proteinuria of less than 3.5g per 24 hour were excluded from the study. patients were selected from nephrology outpatient department of shalamar hospital lahore and children hospital and institute of child health lahore. the trace metals were measured on continuous source atomic absorption spectrophotometer (contraa700) using flame mode for zn and cu. results: the levels of serum zn and cu were significantly lower (28.61±24.07, 47.62±34.1 μg/ dl) as compared to controls (100.8±14.8, 112.3±10.6 μg/dl) respectively. serum zn level and 24 hour urinary protein had negative correlation with each other which was statistically significant (r= -0.442, p= 0.021). there was positive and significant correlation {(r= 0.712, p= 0.001), (r=0.612, p=0.002)} between serum albumin and serum zn & serum cu levels. conclusion: the results of the present study showed that there was high prevalence of zn and cu deficiency in patients suffering from nephrotic syndrome. causes of hypozincemia and hypocuperemia were hypoalbuminemia and increased twenty four hour urinary protein losses. other probable factors were decreased dietary intake and increased loss of trace metals in urine.