Zinc status in patients with chronic renal failure on conservative and peritoneal dialysis treatment

Background and aim: The physiological mechanisms regulating zinc homeostasis in humans have been elucidated and described, but the knowledge of zinc status and zinc distribution in the tissues and in the different biological compartments of patients with conservatively treated chronic renal failure (CRF) and on peritoneal dialysis is still insufficient. This investigation examines and compares zinc content in urine, erythrocytes, plasma, and outflow dialysis solution in a group of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, a group of patients with CRF on conservative treatment and in healthy controls. Material and Methods: The plasma levels of albumin, total protein and creatinine were investigated in group 1 (12 healthy controls), group 2 (12 patients with CRF on conservative treatment) and group 3 (12 patients on peritoneal dialysis - CAPD). Zinc content in plasma, erythrocytes, urine and outflow peritoneal dialysis solution were ascertained by means of atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) with a special attention to the express extraction of the erythrocytes from the plasma. Results and conclusion: In patients on CAPD treatment (group 3) compared to healthy controls (group 1) plasma zinc level was diminished (p<0.05), while erythrocyte zinc elevated (p<0.01). The investigation found out difference between plasma, erythrocyte and urine levels of zinc between the patients with chronic renal failure (group 2) on conservative treatment and those treated by CAPD (group 3), which proves, that continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis influences redistribution of zinc in human organism "per se".