Variation of Serum Trace Element Levels in Patients with Hypertension, Acute Coronary Syndrome and Heart Failure: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) contribute to significant mortality and morbidity where trace elements can affect the pathogenesis of CVD. We did a case-control study at the Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya, from January 2017 to August 2017. A trained interviewer was used to collect the patient information and the blood samples; analysis was carried out at the Geochemical Laboratory, Faculty of Science, the University of Peradeniya. Seventy-six individuals were included in the study consisting of 21 hypertension (HTN), 11 acute coronary syndromes (ACS), 20 heart failure (HF), and 24 controls. In HTN patients, Cu, Cd, and Pb showed a high serum level, and V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, Sr, Ba, and Tl showed a low serum level compared to the control group (p<0.050). In ACS patients Al, As, Cd, and Tl showed a high serum level, and V, Mn, Fe, Zn, Rb, Sr, and Ba showed a low serum level compared to the control group (p<0.050). In HF patients Al, As, Cd, and Tl showed a significantly high serum level, and V, Mn, Zn, Sr, Ba, and Pb, showed a low serum level compared to the control group (p<0.050). Multivariate apportionment of the elements using cluster analyses showed mutual solid clusters among different elements considering patient groups separately. This study concludes that elements in the human body show a heterogeneous variation throughout CVD. Further large-scale studies are vital to establishing the cause-and-effect relationship of these elements to CVD.