[Copper and zinc metabolic derangement in patients with chronic pyelonephritis developing nephrosclerosis and renal...

Cu and Zn levels were measured (nuclear-absorption spectrophotometry) in the blood and urine from patients with chronic pyelonephritis (CP) in emergence of nephrosclerosis and renal insufficiency. CP patients were found to develop hypercupremia as early as initial stages of nephrosclerosis when renal insufficiency was not apparent. Blood Zn was low, especially in development of chronic renal insufficiency. Cu and Zn disbolism may contribute to formation of sclerotic lesions in the kidneys and to development of chronic renal insufficiency. Assay for Cu and Zn is proposed for early diagnosis of nephrosclerosis and provides objective clinical control over the disease course to make timely correction of the detected defects and valid prognosis.