[Heavy metal deposits in pathologically modified hard tissues. Clinical and experimental studies]

Various studies have shown a relationship to exist between toxic heavy metal accumulation and pathologic processes in various tissues. In the present study pathologic processes were found to be associated with an increase in the concentrations of various elements including Hg, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu and Mn. Our results suggest the accumulation of toxic heavy metals and the increase in the Zn concentration to be a secondary phenomenon. If the tissue damage becomes irreversible, the zinc concentration drops, while toxic heavy metals continue to accumulate. consequently, zinc could be an indicator of the biological reactivity of tissues.