Plasma copper levels in ankylosing spondylitis with cardiac involvements

Abstract

Plasma copper levels in ankylosing spondylitis with cardiac involvements Cardiac abnormallities in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have been associated with especially aortic valves and myocardial abnormalities. Otherwise, it has been known that copper deficiency can disturb the cross binding of elastin and collagen fibrils. So, the role of plasma copper levels in AS with cardiac involvement was investigated in this study. Twenty eight cases AS (ali patients met published New York Criteria for AS) were selected for the study. Cardiac involvement was investigated by colour flow Doppler echocardiographic examination. Then, patients divided to two groups. in group I (AS with cardiac abnormalities, n:14) plasma copper determined and compared with group Il (AS without cardiac abnormalities n:15). Plasma copper levels were found to be lower in group I than of the group il. Nutritional factors such as copper might be play a role in occurrence with cardiac abnormallities and effect on mortality. ·