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Low serum selenium concentrations in French patients with measles
M Garcia1, A Pineau2, O Guillard3
1Laboratoire de virologie, CHU de Poitiers, 2, rue de la Milétrie, CS 90577, 86021 Poitiers cedex, France; UFR médecine et pharmacie, université de Poitiers, 6, rue de la Milétrie, TSA 51115, 86073 Poitiers cedex 9, France.
Current Research in Translational Medicine
|April 28, 2017
Summary
Serum selenium levels are significantly reduced in French patients with acute measles. Despite this deficiency, the disease course was not negatively impacted, suggesting potential compensatory mechanisms in developed countries.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Selenium deficiency is linked to adverse measles outcomes in tropical regions.
- Serum selenium levels during acute measles in developed countries remain understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum selenium concentrations in French patients experiencing acute measles.
- To explore correlations between selenium levels and clinical/virological factors in measles patients.
Main Methods:
- Serum selenium concentrations were measured in 94 French acute measles patients.
- A control group of 99 healthy individuals, matched for age and sex, was included for comparison.
Main Results:
- Measles patients exhibited significantly lower mean serum selenium concentrations compared to controls (46.4±14.1μg/L vs. 86.5±13.9μg/L).
- No association was found between selenium levels and patient age, sex, vaccination status, clinical symptoms, or antibody response.
- Serum selenium levels did not significantly differ between uncomplicated and complicated measles cases.
Conclusions:
- Acute measles is associated with a marked reduction in serum selenium levels.
- This reduction does not appear to negatively influence the disease course in developed countries.
- Compensatory mechanisms may be present in patients from developed nations, mitigating the impact of selenium deficiency during measles.
