Correlation of serum trace elements with other biological parameters in hemoproliferative disorders

Serum trace elements were measured by PIXE in 88 patients with hemoproliferative disorders (Lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, chronic lymphocytic leukemi, multiple myeloma, polycythemia vera and myeloproliferative disorders). Calcium, copper, zinc, selenium and bromine were correlated with other biological parameters, including hematocrit, WBC and platelet counts, ESR, fibrinogen, transferrin, ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, orosomucoid, antitrypsin, serum protein, albumin, alph 2-globulin, alkaline phosphatase, SGPT, LDH, gamma-GT, cholesterol, triglycerides, glycemia, urea, uric acid, creatinine, beta 2-microglobulin, CEA and C1g assay for circulating immune complexes. Copper was correlated with the different inflammatory tests (all P values < 0,01) and with the value of th C1g assay (P < 0,001). Zinc was inversely correlated with the inflammatory tests. The Cu/Zn ratio was thus significantly related to the importance of inflammation (all P values < 0,01). Calcium and zinc were correlated with albumin (P < 0,05). Selenium was positively correlated with gamma-GT (P < 0,001), and also with glycemia (P < 0,001) and alkaline phosphatase (P < 0,001), and also with glycemia (P < 0,001). Bromine was not significantly associated with any other biological parameter. The significance of these associations is discussed.