TRACE-ELEMENT CHANGES IN CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASES

Artery samples and five different brain structures originating from bo th atherosclerosis affected and healthy Portuguese individuals were ex amined for their elemental content. Particle-induced X-ray emission (P IXE) was used to determine K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se and Rb in all the tissues studied. The most prominent differences between the pathologi cal and reference data were those for Mn, Fe. Cu and Zn in the nucleus caudatus, putamen and substantia nigra brain regions. In the arteries a significant increase in Ca and Mn content was observed, whereas the K and Fe content declined. The decreased K and Rb content in the five brain structures from the pathological group and the changes for Mn i n the nucleus caudatus, putamen and substantia nigra regions can be as sociated with aging. However, age cannot explain the other trace eleme nt alterations, e.g., for Fe, Cu and Zn. Most likely, the changes for these elements are due to atherosclerosis progression.