Alterations of serum levels of zinc, copper and selenium trace elements in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and acute rheumatic fever: preliminary findings

Abstract EN

Background : some trace elements such as zinc, copper and selenium (Zn, Cu and Se) are catalytic, structural and regulatory ions for enzymes, proteins and transcription factors, and is thus are critical in many homeostatic mechanisms of the body, including immune responses.

Our knowledge about changes in Zn, Cu and se elements in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is incomplete.

We hypothesize that “development of JIA and ARF is associated with alterations of Zn, Cu and Se trace elements”.

Objectives : to test this hypothesis and to fill this existing gap in literature.

Patients and Methods : serum level of Zn, Cu and Se was examined in healthy individuals (10.0 control cases), JIA and ARF (23 and 19 cases, respectively) using atomic spectrophotometric assays.

Results : compared to the control group, there were a reduction of serum se levels and Zn levels and elevation of Cu levels in JIA and ARF.

These changes were more obvious with disease activity, poly articular involvement (JIA) and presence of cardiac affection (ARF).

Meanwhile, there was a significant direct correlation among the activity indices and both serum Zn and Se levels.

Conclusions : the significant alterations of some serum trace elements in JIA and ARF suggest possible roles for these elements in the development of these lesions.

The diagnostic and prognostic ramifications of these findings are open for further investigations.