SELENIUM IN UREMIA

The importance of selenium as an essential trace element for man has b een increasingly recognized during the last several years. Selenium de ficiency has been associated with cases of congestive cardiomyopathy, skeletal myopathy, anemia, enhanced cancer risk, elevated incidence of cardiovascular disease, immune system alterations, hair and nail chan ges, and abnormalities in thyroid hormone metabolism. These symptoms a re frequently present in chronic uremic patients. Nevertheless, the pr evalence and significance of selenium deficiency in the uremic syndrom e is still not clearly defined. This article reviews the selenium stat us in chronic uremic patients, the supposed pathogenetic mechanisms of selenium disturbance in uremia, and the possible role of selenium def iciency on some uremic abnormalities.