Abstract
Serum levels of Zn, Cu, Se, and Mn in 72 hospital patients suffering from liver cirrhosis (LC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or chronic hepatitis (CH) were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry, and the results were compared with those obtained from 151 healthy adults serving as controls. Serum Cu levels in subjects with HCC and LC were significantly elevated, whereas both Zn and Se levels were lowered. Subjects with CH also showed a decrease in Se level. Consequently, a marked increase (>40%) in the Cu/Zn ratio of the sera of both HCC and LC groups was observed. There were no significant differences in Mn levels between the controls and the diseased groups, except for the slight increase shown by the LC group. Changes in the level of these trace metals were found to be independent of the individual metals.
