Relationship between haemodialysis anaemia and copper and zinc

In fifteen chronic haemodialysis patients, serum and corpuscular copper and zinc concentrations were examined before and after dialysis. Serum copper levels were normal before dialysis and elevated after dialysis. However, corpuscular copper levels were low before dialysis and did not change after dialysis. Serum zinc concentrations before dialysis were low and significantly increased after dialysis. Corpuscular zinc levels before dialysis were high, but were unchanged after dialysis. There was a good correlation between serum zinc levels and red blood cell counts (RBC) and the value of haemoglobin (Hb), whereas we found no significant correlation between levels of serum or corpuscular copper and zinc, and of RBC, Hb, haematocrit or serum iron.