Zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum were determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 74 patients suffering from various neurological diseases, and in 28 healthy controls. Increased CSF zinc levels were found in the group of peripheral nervous system diseases (P less than 0.01) and in the cases of different neurological syndromes with increased CSF protein concentration (P less than 0.001). Increased CSF and serum copper levels were found in the cases with increased CSF protein levels (P less than 0.05). It is probable that the damaged blood-brain-barrier (BBB) permits the passage of the trace elements Zn, Cu and of Mg into the subarachnoid space. Decreased serum Cu levels (P less than 0.01) were found in the group of multiple sclerosis (MS). The findings are correlated to those of previous communications.
In a total of 62 samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and an equal number of serum samples obtained from 16 patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 22 patients suffering from miscellaneous neurological diseases, and 24 controls, lead was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. No statistical difference in lead concentration was found between the above three groups.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.