Is There Any Association Between Serum Iron And Copper Levels In Hemodialysis Patients?

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine changing in serum iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and ferritin levels in hemodialysis patients and to indicate whether there were any correlations between elements and ferritin levels. The study was carried out on 47 hemodialysis patient with the mean age 50.26±16.36 yr who were dialyzed with a range of 2-16 years. This group called as "Hemodialysis group". Blood samples were taken before (pre-hemodialysis) and after (post-hemodialysis) the hemodialysis session. "Control group" included 23 healthy volunteers with the mean age 39.52±11.54 yr. The findings demonstrated that there were no significant differences between the all groups according to data of serum Fe levels. However, serum Cu levels were higher in pre-hemodialysis than the control group (p<0.05) and serum ferritin levels were higher in group pre and post-hemodialysis than the control group (p<0.001). In pre-hemodialysis a significant positive correlations between ferritin and Fe (r=0.373, p<0.05), Fe and Cu (r=0.410, p<0.01) were determined. Findings obtained from the study deliberate that alterations in the levels of Cu may be important for the hemodialysis patients. In addition to correlation between Fe and Cu suggests that there is association between these elements. Further studies are necessary to clarify the association between Fe and Cu.