Comparative Assessment of Essential and Toxic Metals in the Blood of Spondyloarthropathy Patients and Healthy Subjects

Abstract

The present study aims to evaluate selected essential and toxic metal levels in the blood of spondyloarthropathy patients compared to healthy subjects. The blood samples collected from both donor groups were digested in a mixture of nitric/perchloric acid. The metal contents were quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry. The comparative distribution of the metals in patients was significantly different from the healthy subjects. Comparison of the metals data indicated that Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Mn levels were significantly higher in the patients, whereas Ca, Mg, and Zn contents were substantially higher in healthy subjects. The correlation study showed significant positive relationships among Pb-Co, Mn-Cd, Cu-Ca, Pb-Mn, Cr-Co, Mn-Co, and Pb-Cr, while significant negative correlations were noted Zn-Ca, Zn-Fe, and Cd-Ca in the patients. Multivariate PCA and CA indicated mutual associations among the essential and toxic metals in patients, whereas, in healthy subjects, the essential and toxic metals revealed entirely diverse apportionment. Effects of demographic factors such as gender, habitat, food habits, and smoking habits on the distribution of metals in both donor groups were also evaluated. The study revealed significantly diverse distribution, correlation and apportionment of the metals in the patients compared to healthy subjects.