ESSENTIAL TRACE-ELEMENT ALTERATIONS IN AMYOTROPHIC-LATERAL-SCLEROSIS

Although trace elements have been implicated in the pathogenesis of am yotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for a long time, new evidence has co nnected familial ALS with the metalloenzyme copper-zinc superoxide dis mutase, thus reinforcing the study of their metabolism. This work pres ents the results of serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels of copper, zi nc, manganese and magnesium, by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. S tatistically significant decreased cerebrospinal fluid and serum coppe r levels were found in patients compared to the control group (20.25+/ -7.09 vs. 30.86+/-16.02 SD mu g/l and 913.21+/-165.55 vs. 1020.17+/-19 7.76 SD mu g/l) while serum manganese levels were found to be increase d in patients (3.59+/-0.89 SD mu g/l) compared to controls (3.03+/-1.2 3 SD mu g/l). Zinc and magnesium levels were unchanged. Our findings i ndicate an essential trace element imbalance in the disease. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.