Correlation of Some Trace Elements and Chronic Hepatitis B Infections in Babylon

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious global public health problem with an estimated 2 billion people infected worldwide and 350 million persons with chronic HBV infection. Various trace elements play an important role in the course of HBV infection.

Aim of the study:

To determine the quantitative estimation of some trace elements ]lead (Pb), iron (Fe), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn)[ in the serum of patients with chronic HBV infection and compare with serum of healthy group, and also to evaluate these trace elements concentrations in chronic HBV infected patients in regards to their serum transaminase levels.

Materials and Methods:

The serum concentrations of Pb, Fe, Se, and Zn were determined in 40 patients with chronic HBV infections that included 31 males and 9 females ranging between 17 and 70 years and 15 of them live in urban area while 25 live in rural areas, while the control group comprised 30 healthy volunteers that included 20 males and 10 females aged between 22 and 58 (mean of  43 ± 8.79) years, 16 live in urban area and 14 live in rural area.

Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometer technique was used for this measurement, especially Se measure by cold evaporative method.

Result:

The study showed that Pb, Fe, Se and Zn concentrations in serum of hepatitis B patients with high liver function test were 88 ± 24 ppb(part per billion), 2042 ± 582 ppb, 1846 ± 345 ppb and 554 ± 292 ppb respectively. While in patients with hepatitis B virus infection with normal liver function test, these concentrations were 44 ± 22 ppb, 1692 ± 466 ppb, 2074 ± 302 ppb and 735 ± 138 ppb respectively. In healthy individuals these concentrations were 37 ± 18 ppb, 1620  ± 396 ppb, 2084 ± 155 ppb and 786 ± 333 ppb respectively. All of these results were statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

This study confirms the variation of trace elements concentration in Hepatitis B Virus affected patients compared with healthy volunteers.