Major and trace elements in whole blood of phlebotomized patients with porphyria cutanea tarda

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a disorder of hem biosynthesis resulting from a decreased activity of the uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase enzyme. Hem precursors are accumulated in the blood, liver and skin. Inherited and acquired factors also contribute to the pathogenesis of PCT. Hem precursors and porphyrins are excreted with urine and faeces. Whole blood of 8 PCT patients and 6 volunteers of Caucasian origin were analysed. In addition to routine laboratory measurements, 19 elements (Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, S, V, Zn) were determined by means of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Mg, P and S concentrations in whole blood were decreased significantly (p<0.05), whereas Ba was increased in PCT patients compared to controls. Metabolic alterations are reflected in the correlation of parameters. Positive correlations were found between the element pairs of Zn-Al, Zn-Mg, Zn-Mn, B-S, Fe-Mg, K-P, Mg-Mn for PCT patients, whereas in the control group Al-Mn, Ca-Cu, Ca-Na, Cu-Mg, Fe-K, Mg-Na, Zn-P showed positive correlations.