Blood metals levels in patients with retained missile

Abstract EN

Our aim is to investigate the levels of blood lead, serum copper, zinc and iron in patients with retained missile.

Blood lead, serum copper, zinc and iron concentrations were measured in 54 patients with retained missile and compared with 60 control apparently healthy individuals by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry technique.

Blood lead levels were significantly higher in the patients than in the controls, while no significant differences in serum copper, iron and zinc concentrations were noticed.

There were significant positive correlations between blood lead levels and duration of exposure of the retained missile, as well as the size of retained missile, but insignificant correlation between (copper, iron and zinc) with either the size or the duration of exposure of retained missile was observed.

These findings suggest that the patients with retained missile had higher blood lead level and consequently undergoes lead poisoning when compared to the control individuals.

Also this data indicates an involvement of size and duration of exposure of retained missile as important factors to lead poisoning.