Concentration of essential chemical elements in whole blood and in paranasal sinuses mucosa is related to chronic rhinosinusitis severity in children

Abstract

Objectives to evaluate the association between essential chemical element levels in whole blood and in pathologic mucosa and chronic rhinosinusitis severity in children. Material and methods. A total of 154 children aged from 6 to 17 years were examined. Among them, 88 children had chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). The 66 healthy children were included in the control group. Life quality was assessed using SNOT-20 (Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-20). Endoscopic and computer tomography findings were evaluated using Lund Kennedy and Lund Mackay scales, respectively. The assessment of essential element levels in whole blood samples was performed using inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometry. Results. The obtained data demonstrate that total SNOT-20 scores in CRS patients were 68% higher than in controls. At the same time, whole blood calcium, selenium, zinc, and magnesium levels were 6%, 28%, 20%, and 3% lower than the respective control values. The analysis of pathologic mucosa demonstrated that the chemical element contents were reducing in the following order: Ca Mg = Fe Zn Cu Mn Se. However, only whole blood selenium level correlated significantly with its tissue level. In multiple regression models, the whole blood Se level was inversely associated with SNOT-20 and Lund Mackay total scores. Conclusion. Therefore, the obtained data allow to propose the potential role of altered calcium, magnesium, zinc and selenium metabolism in CRS progression.