The aim of this work was to estimate the level and the role of some
trace elements in some common dermatological diseases, psoriasis,
seborrhoeic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis and pityriasis alba and compare
it with serum and tissue levels in normal controls. This study included 20
psoriatic patients, 20 patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis and 20 patients
with atopic dermatitis and 20 patients with pityriasis alba in addition to
20 healthy subjects as a control group. Copper, zinc and selenium were
estimated in the serum and skin biopsy by using atomic absorption
spectrophotometer. In psoriatic patients compared to controls, zinc was
significantly decreased (P < 0.001) in the serum and was significantly
increased (P < 0.05) in the tissue, copper was significantly increased in
serum (P < 0.001) and was non significantly changed (P> 0.05) in the
tissue and selenium was significantly decreased (P <0.001) in the serum
and was non significantly decreased (P > 0.05) in the tissue. In
seborrhoeic group compared to controls, zinc was non significantly
decreased (P > 0.05) in serum and was significantly increased (P < 0.05)
in the tissue, copper was significantly increased (P <0.001) in the serum
and was non significantly decreased (P> 0.05) in the tissue, and selenium
was significantly decreased in the serum (P < 0.01) and was significantly increased (P <0.05) in the tissue. In atopic dermatitis group compared to
controls, zinc was significantly decreased (P < 0.001) in the serum
without any significant change in the tissue, copper was significantly
increased in the serum (P <0.001) and also in the tissue (P <0.05) and
selenium was significantly decreased (P <0.001) in the serum only. In
pityriasis alba group, compared to controls, Zinc was significantly
decreased in the serum (P < 0.001) and in the tissue (P < 0.05), copper
was significantly decreased in the serum (P< 0.001) and was significantly
increased (P < 0.01) in the tissue and selenium was significantly
decreased (P < 0.001) in the serum. We concluded that there was
disturbance in trace elements concentrations in these dermatological
diseases and this study has been designed to give an information about
estimations of the total amounts of the trace elements in these diseases. If
monitoring of such trace elements is unavailable during treatment, the
changes in their levels must be at least considered. We recommended
further studies of trace elements metabolism in these skin diseases and
good nutrition with diets rich in such elements in addition to specific
therapy. |
