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Trace Element Concentrations in Autopsied Heart Tissues from Patients with Secondary Cardiomyopathy

Ana Ćirović1, Aleksandra Buha Đorđević2,3, Aleksandar Ćirović4

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 4/2, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.

Biological Trace Element Research
|September 25, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Cardiomyopathy patients show higher levels of lead, nickel, manganese, and copper in heart tissue. Essential zinc levels were significantly lower in individuals with cardiomyopathy (CMP).

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Toxicology
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Cardiomyopathies (CMP) are a major cause of heart failure and transplantation, with poor long-term outcomes.
  • Heavy metals are known cardiotoxins, with elevated levels observed in blood and urine of heart disease patients.
  • Direct myocardial metal analysis in CMP has been lacking, particularly for essential metals like zinc (Zn).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and quantify metal concentrations in the left ventricle myocardium of individuals with CMP.
  • To compare metal profiles in CMP patients versus non-heart disease controls.

Main Methods:

  • Post-mortem left ventricle myocardial samples were collected from 52 individuals.
  • 19 samples were from diagnosed CMP patients (mean age 72 ± 10 years).
  • 33 samples were from individuals without heart disease (mean age 67 ± 15 years).
  • Metal concentrations (including lead, nickel, manganese, copper, and zinc) were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • CMP patients exhibited significantly higher concentrations of lead, nickel, manganese, and copper compared to controls (p ≤ 0.011).
  • Zinc levels were significantly lower in the myocardium of CMP subjects (p = 0.017).
  • These findings suggest an altered metal burden in the heart tissue of individuals with CMP.

Conclusions:

  • Increased myocardial concentrations of lead, nickel, manganese, and copper are associated with cardiomyopathy.
  • Reduced zinc levels in the heart may also play a role in CMP pathogenesis.
  • These results highlight the potential cardiotoxic effects of specific heavy metals and the importance of essential minerals in heart health.

Keywords:
CardiomyopathiesHuman studyLeadMetalsZinc

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