PLASMA AND ERYTHROCYTE MANGANESE CONCENTRATIONS - INFLUENCE OF AGE AND ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

This study was carried out to assess manganese (Mn) status after an ac ute episode of myocardial infarction. Plasma and erythrocyte Mn concen trations were measured from admission to hospital to day 15 postadmiss ion in 21 patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction and in t hree control groups. The determination of Mn in these biological fluid s was performed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Plas ma Mn was higher (p <0.01) and erythrocyte Mn was similar in the acute myocardial infarction group compared to healthy age-matched control g roup. Plasma and erythrocyte Mn remained unchanged during the 2 wk aft er acute myocardial infarction and were not correlated to enzyme activ ities. A decrease of erythrocyte Mn with age, expressed in nmol/L, was noted (p <0.02). These results suggest that plasma and erythrocyte Mn do not provide an indication of myocardial damage. Nonetheless, Mn st atus in elderly merits further attention.