Assessment of Trace elements (Zinc, Copper) in Iraqi Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease on Dialysis

Abstract

Background: In the context of insufficient healthcare accessibility for a substantial segment of the global populace, chronic kidney disease (CKD) has emerged as a significant contributor to mortality, ranked subsequent to cardiovascular disease and neoplasia, demonstrating a notable increase over the preceding two decades. This rising burden of CKD is further exacerbated by a deficient understanding of its underlying pathogenesis. Therefore, it was important to study all the variables in the human body that contribute to monitoring the patient's condition or preventing the patient's condition from deteriorating. In this study, we highlighted some trace elements (zinc and copper), and monitored the change in these elements between patients and healthy people. We indicated the possibility of monitoring the results of tests for these elements to predict the condition of patients from the first stage to the final stages of chronic renal failure patients on dialysis. purpose: To assess the trace elements (zinc, copper) in Chronic kidney disease patients compared with healthy control. Methods: A total forty (40) patient with chronic kidney disease were studied among them twenty (20) female and twenty (20) male patients and forty (40) healthy as control of them were eighteen (18) females and twenty-two (22) males. Their ages (patients and controls) were ranged from (18 – 70). Blood samples were collected from patients and control to evaluate serum levels of serum trace elements (zinc, copper) and evaluate the routine markers (urea, creatinine, Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase) and this was done by spectrophotometry. Results The Zinc levels in the patients (80.69±51.30 μg/dl) were lower than in the control group (97.42±38.61 μg/dl) (p=0.10773) and The Copper levels in the patients are significantly higher (116.33±71.20 μg/dl) than in the control group (74.77±46.16 μg/dl) (p=0.00304). while The Alanine Aminotransferase and Aspartate Aminotransferase levels in the patients are lower than in the control group, but the difference is not statistically significant for ALT (p=0.13235) and is significant for AST (p=0.02982). the Alkaline Phosphatase, Urea, and Serum Creatinine levels in the patients were all significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.00001 for all). Conclusion: A notable elevation in alkaline phosphatase and copper levels is observed in chronic kidney disease patients, alongside a modest decrease in serum zinc in those with end-stage chronic kidney disease compared to healthy individuals, indicating these biomarkers' potential diagnostic utility in advanced stages of the disease. The correlation between AST/ALT and CKD progression highlights the impact of liver enzyme alterations during chronic kidney disease.