TRACE ELEMENTS IN HUMAN BLOOD: ALTERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

The alteration of concentration levels for two minor elements (K and Ca) and 7 trace elements (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb and Pb) in serum and packed blood cells was investigated. The samples originated from 35 patients that had a myocardial infarction and from 29 healthy individuals. The Mn and Pb concentrations were only determined in packed blood cells. Particle-induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) was used to determine the elemental concentrations in the various samples. In blood serum the Fe, Cu and Zn concentrations were found to be altered from normal, while in packed blood cells significant differences were encountered for Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Se and Pb. Factor analysis performed on the serum and packed blood cells data matrices revealed one factor for each sample type which allowed distinguishing between healthy and pathological individuals. Furthermore, the elements that permit this discrimination are different for the two data sets. The elements related to this discrimination factor were Fe and Cu for serum and Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn for packed blood cells.