DETERMINATION OF TRACE-ELEMENTS IN BLOOD-SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH BEHCET DISEASE BY TOTAL-REFLECTION X-RAY-FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS

The distribution of trace elements Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, and Rb was determin ed in sera from patients with the complete type of Behcet disease in t he active stage and from healthy controls. Total reflection x-ray fluo rescence was used for quantitative analysis; in general, atomic absorp tion spectrometry was used only for control of the Se values. Zn, Se, and Rb concentrations were significantly (P < 0.0001) lower for patien ts than for control subjects. No significant difference was determined in the Fe content. However, there was a significant increase in Cu in the patients so that the ratios Cu/Zn, Cu/Se, and Cu/Rb were signific antly higher for the patients than for the control subjects (P < 0.000 1).