Trace element profiles in individual blood cells from patients with Down's syndrome

The concentrations of trace elements in three different types of blood cells--erythrocytes, thrombocytes and neutrophils--were determined by nuclear microprobe analysis in 11 children with Down's syndrome (DS) and compared with those in 13 controls. The median concentration of copper in all three types of blood cells and that of calcium in erythrocytes were significantly higher in DS children than in controls. In contrast, the median levels of zinc in erythrocytes, of manganese and iron in erythrocytes and neutrophils, and of magnesium in erythrocytes and thrombocytes were significantly lower in DS than in control children. In 10 of the 11 DS children, detectable erythrocyte levels of titanium were found, which is remarkable, since this was not observed in any of the cells from the control children.