DETERMINATION OF TOTAL ARSENIC IN SERUM AND PACKED CELLS OF PATIENTS WITH RENAL-INSUFFICIENCY

In order to investigate the arsenic level in serum and packed cells of patients with renal insufficiency, total arsenic (As) concentrations were determined with hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HGAAS) in serum (S) and packed cells (PC) of 31 non-dialyzed patient s. The accuracy of the method was tested by the analysis of arsenic in 3 certified reference materials. Patients showed a three-fold increas e of arsenic concentrations in serum and a two-fold increase of arseni c in packed cells compared with controls. Patients (n = 10) with highe r serum creatinine (> 2.0 mg/dL), urea (>0.70 g/L) and urinary protein (mean +/- SD: 1.12 +/- 0.8 2 g/L) showed higher arsenic concentration s (5.8 +/- 3.3 mu g/L in serum and 18.0 +/- 16.7 mu g/kg in packed cel ls) compared with those with lower creatinine (< 1.6 mg/dL), urea (< 0 .6 g/L) and urinary protein (mean +/- SD: 0.27 +/- 10.82 g/L) (n = 16, serum arsenic 1.2 +/- 1.2 mu g/L, packed cells arsenic 2.6 +/- 1.9 mu g/kg). The significant differences (both p < 0.001) in S and PC-arsen ic levels of patients in group I and II implies a relationship between the arsenic level and the degree of chronic renal insufficiency.