Leucocyte zinc in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease

Zinc concentration in serum and leucocytes in chronic inflammatory diseases

In connection with inflammatory diseases of various origins an increasing amount of research has been directed towards trace elements, in particular zinc. However, proving changes in the zinc concentration of organisms or single cells still encounters major methodological difficulties. This is also probably the reason why many of the research findings to be found in current publications still significantly differ from one another. The present study utilizes a novel leucocyte-preparation method, which proved to be very reliable as regards the constancy of measured values. Thus, results obtained in 1989 which show a significant decrease in leucocyte zinc concentrations of patients with Crohn's disease were confirmed (1) as well as extended to the clinical pictures of Colitis ulcerosa and chronic pancreatitis of ethylic origin by studying a group of patients. Significant changes in serum zinc levels could not be proved. There was also no correlation between the leucocyte zinc concentrations and the serum zinc concentrations, on the one hand and the clinical parameters C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), body weight, humeral muscle area as well as activity of the disease, on the other.

The effects of acute infection on indices of zinc status

Various indices of zinc status were assessed in 12 patients with acute urinary tract or chest infections on Day 1 and Day 7 of the infection. Leucocyte counts were raised on Day 1 but had returned to near normal by Day 7. Plasma zinc was decreased on Day 1 in conjunction with depressed plasma albumin concentrations (r = 0.71, p < 0.001) but both had returned to normal by Day 7. Mononuclear cell zinc was raised in all patients on Day 1 compared to Day 7 and control values, but polymorphonuclear cell zinc remained unchanged. However, polymorphonuclear cell alkaline phosphatase activity was grossly increased on Day 1 and correlated with leucocyte count (r = 0.61, p < 0.01). Plasma alkaline phosphatase activity was variable. These results indicate that in patients with infections measurement of plasma mononuclear cell zinc concentration and alkaline phosphatase activity are misleading indicators of zinc status. Polymorphonuclear cell zinc is unaffected by leucocytosis, inflammation and stress and may therefore provide a more reliable index of zinc status in such patients.