Acta Pharm. 65 (2015) 321-329

 

full paper

Original research paper

 

Contribution to diagnostics/prognostics of tuberculosis in children. II. Indicative value of metal ions and biochemical parameters in serum

SVJETLANA LUTEROTTI, TONČICAVUKMAN KORDIĆ, IVKA ZORIČIĆ LETOJA and SLAVICA DODIG

svjetlana.luterotti@pharma.hr; svjetlana.luterotti@gmail.com

1 University of Zagreb, Faculty of Pharmacy, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia

2 Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia

3 Children´s HospitalSrebrnjak, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Accepted June 15, 2015

 

Newly introduced methods of assaying simultaneously copper and zinc and zinc alone in serum by flame atomic-absorption spectrometry are simple and economical, especially in saving the consumption of serum material. Along with biochemical parameters, they have been successfully applied to diagnostics/prognostics of tuberculosis (TBC) in children, through analyses of sera from pediatric patients with lung tuberculosis or suspected tuberculosis, enabling the follow-up of therapeutic efficiency. The prognostic strength of Cu and Cu/Zn ratio together with C-reactive protein (CRP), complement components C3 and C4, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (SE) have been documented.

 

Keywords: copper, zinc, Cu/Zn ratio, biochemical parameters, children's serum, lung tuberculosis