TRACE-ELEMENT (AL, SE, ZN, CU) LEVELS IN SERUM, URINE AND TISSUES OF BURN PATIENTS

Trace elements are known to play many important roles in humans. It ha s also been shown that some of these elements are essential in wound h ealing. In this study, aluminium, copper, zinc and selenium levels wer e determined in serum, urine and tissue samples of burned patients and the relationships between wound healing and trace elements were evalu ated. Trace element levels were determined using atomic absorption spe ctrophotometry. During 20 days' treatment, a significant rise in alumi nium levels was determined in serum, urine and tissue samples of patie nts. After day 5 of treatment, copper levels increased significantly o nly in urine samples. Zinc levels decreased in serum and tissue sample s. However, zinc gave high values in urine within the first week then returned to the initial value. There was a significant decrease in zin c in serum and tissue samples taken from burned patients during treatm ent. Urine selenium levels showed a significant within the first 15 da ys.