[Zinc in patients with ascites]

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Clinical Medicine
• Oncology

Background:

• Ascites is a common complication of liver cirrhosis and malignancy.
• Zinc is an essential trace element involved in numerous biological processes.
• Alterations in zinc levels have been observed in various diseases, including liver disease and cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate zinc concentrations in serum and ascitic fluid (AF) in patients with ascites.
• To compare zinc levels between patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and those with malignant neoplasias.
• To explore the relationship between zinc and other biochemical markers in ascitic fluid.

Main Methods:

• Serum and ascitic fluid samples were collected from 48 patients with ascites.
• Patients were categorized into alcoholic liver cirrhosis, liver carcinoma associated to cirrhosis, and other malignant neoplasias groups.
• Concentrations of zinc, total protein, albumin, and alpha 2-globulin were measured in serum and/or ascitic fluid.

Main Results:

• Patients with liver cirrhosis exhibited decreased serum zinc, and lower ascitic fluid levels of total protein, albumin, and alpha 2-globulin compared to neoplastic patients.
• Ascitic fluid zinc concentration showed a positive correlation with total protein, albumin, and alpha 2-globulin levels.
• A parallel correlation was observed between serum zinc and ascitic fluid zinc concentrations.

Conclusions:

• Zinc levels are altered in patients with ascites, with lower concentrations observed in liver cirrhosis.
• Ascitic fluid zinc levels are associated with protein concentrations, suggesting a link to fluid dynamics and protein leakage.
• The parallel correlation between serum and ascitic fluid zinc indicates systemic zinc dysregulation in ascites.