Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Plasma Levels of Trace Elements Have an Implication on Interferon Treatment of Children with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study evaluated the plasma levels of trace elements in children with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and assessed whether they can be a factor that affects the response to interferon alpha (IFN-α) treatment. The study included 35 cases (ten girls, 25 boys) aged 3–13 years with chronic HBV infection and the control group. Plasma levels of copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) were measured before IFN-α treatment and biochemical, virological, and histopathologic response to treatment were assessed. Children were followed for at least 15 months. Although plasma Cu levels showed no difference between the groups, Mn, Mo, Se, and Zn levels were significantly lower in the study group before treatment. Fourteen cases (40%) showed biochemical response; 17 (48.6%) showed virological response; 16 (47.6%) showed histopathologic response, and ten (28.6%) showed response according to all three parameters. Plasma Cu and Mn levels of patients with triple response showed no difference; but Mo, Se, and Zn levels were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the study group. No difference was observed between responders and nonresponders (p > 0.05). Plasma levels of Mn, Mo, Se, and Zn are lower in children with chronic HBV infection compared to healthy children. The pretreatment levels of these elements did not show difference between responders and nonresponders to IFN-α.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dienstag JL (2008) Hepatitis B virus infection. N Engl J Med 359:1486–1500

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Alacacioglu A, Somali I, Simsek I, Astarcioglu I, Ozkan M, Camci C et al (2008) Epidemiology and survival of hepatocellular carcinoma in Turkey. Jpn J Clin Oncol 38:683–688

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lin CC, Huang JF, Tsai LY, Huang YL (2006) Selenium, iron, copper, an zinc levels and copper-to-zinc ratios in serum of patients at different stages of viral hepatic diseases. Biol Trace Elem Res 109:15–24

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Yu SY, Zhu YJ, Li WG (1997) Protective role of selenium against hepatitis B virus and primary liver cancer in Quidong. Biol Trace Elem Res 56:117–124

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Selimoğlu MA, Aydoğdu S, Unal F, Yüce G, Yağcı RV (2001) Serum zinc status in chronic hepatitis B and its relationship to liver histology and treatment results. Pediatr Int 43:396–399

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Hatano R, Ebara M, Fukuda H, Yoshikawa M, Sugiura N, Kondo M et al (2001) Accumulation of copper in the liver and hepatic injury in chronic hepatitis C. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 15:786–791

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Sakurai H, Nakajima K, Kamada H, Satoh H, Otaki N, Kimura M, Kawano K (1993) Copper-metallothionein in the liver of Long-Evans cinnamon rats: studies on immunohistochemical staining, metal determination, gel filtration and electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 30:893–898

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Hayashi M, Kuge T, Endoh D, Nakayama K, Arikawa J, Takazawa AS, Okui T (2000) Hepatic copper accumulation induces DNA strand breaks in the liver cells of Long-Evans Cinnamon strain rats. Biochem Biophys Comm 276:174–178

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Schimpl G, Pabst MA, Feierl G, Özbey H, Takahashi S (1999) A tungsten supplemented diet attenuates bacterial translocation in chronic portal hypertensive and cholestatic rats: role of xanthine dehydrogenase and xanthine oxidase. Gut 45:904–910

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Suresh VS, Rana C, Archana C (2000) Influence of methionine and zinc on liver collagen in molybdenotic rats. Biol Trace Elem Res 73:85–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Ozbal E, Helvaci M, Kasirga E, Akdenizoglu F, Kizilgüneşler A (2002) Serum zinc, as a fact or predicting response to interferon alpha2b therapy in children with chronic hepatitis B. Biol Trace Elem Res 90:31–38

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Knodell RG, Isak K, Black WC et al (1981) Formulation and application of a numerical scoring system for assessing histological activity in asymptomatic chronic active hepatitis. Hepatology 1:431–435

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Inagaki T, Katoh K, Takiya S, Tkuta K, Kobayashi S, Suzuki M (1992) Relationship between superoxide dismutase and viral liver disease. Gastroenterol 27:382–389

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kalkan A, Bulut V, Avci S, Celik I, Bingol NK (2002) Trace elements in viral hepatitis. J Trace Elem Med Biol 16:227–230

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Cesur S, Cebeci SA, Kavas GO, Aksaray S, Tezeren D (2005) Serum copper and zinc concentrations in patients with chronic hepatitis B. J Infect 51:38–40

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Logurecio C, De Girolamo V, Federico A, Feng SL, Cataldi V, Gialanella G et al (2001) Relationship of blood trace elements to liver damage, nutritional status, and oxidative stress in chronic nonalcoholic liver diseases. Biol Trace Elem Res 81:245–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Farinati F, Cardin R, de Maria N, Lecis PE, Della Libera G, Burra P, Marafin C (1995) Zinc, iron and peroxidation in liver tissue cumulative effects of alcohol consumption and viral-mediated damage a preliminary report. Biol Trace Elem Res 47:193–199

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Nagamine T, Takagi H, Takayama H, Kojima A, Kakizaki S, Mori M, Nakajima K (2000) Preliminary study of combination therapy with interferon-α and zinc in chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1b. Biol Trace Elem Res 75:245–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Look MP, Gerard A, Rao GS, Sudhop T, Fischer HP, Sauerbruch T (1999) Interferon/antioxidant combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C a controlled pilot trial. Antiviral Res 43:113–122

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Czuczejko J, Zachara BA, Staubach-Topczewska E, Halota W, Kedziora J (2003) Selenium, glutathione and glutathione peroxidases in blood of patients with chronic liver diseases. Acta Biochim Pol 50:1147–1154

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Schrauzer GN (2009) Selenium and selenium-antagonistic elements in nutritional cancer prevention. Crit Rev Biotechnol 29:10–17

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Spahr L, Butterworth RF, Fontaine S, Bui L, Therrien G, Milette PC et al (1996) Increased blood manganese in cirrhotic patients: relationship to pallidal magnetic resonance signal hyperintensity and neurological symptoms. Hepatology 24:1116–1120

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Rahelic D, Kujundzic M, Romic Z, Brkic K, Petrovecki M (2006) Serum concentration of zinc, copper, manganese and magnesium in patients with liver cirrhosis. Coll Antropol 30:523–528

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Bayliss EA, Hmbidge KM, Sokol RJ, Stewart B, Lilly JR (1995) Hepatic concentrations of zinc, copper and manganese in infants with extrahepatic biliary atresia. J Trace Elem Med Biol 9:40–43

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Moreno FR, Reimers EG, Fernandez FS, Martin LG, Torres OH, Lopez NB, Perez MM (1997) Zinc, copper, manganese, and iron in chronic alcoholic liver disease. Alcohol 14:39–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, 06010, Ankara, Turkey

    Necati Balamtekin, Ahmet Emin Kurekci, Avni Atay, Süleyman Kalman, Vedat Okutan, Erdal Gokcay & Okan Ozcan

  2. Department of Pharmacy, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, 06010, Ankara, Turkey

    Ahmet Aydın

  3. Department of Clinic Microbiology, Section of Virology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, 06010, Ankara, Turkey

    Kenan Sener

  4. Department of Pathology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, 06010, Ankara, Turkey

    Mukerrem Safalı

Authors
  1. Necati Balamtekin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ahmet Emin Kurekci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Avni Atay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Süleyman Kalman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Vedat Okutan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Erdal Gokcay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ahmet Aydın
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Kenan Sener
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Mukerrem Safalı
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Okan Ozcan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Necati Balamtekin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Balamtekin, N., Kurekci, A.E., Atay, A. et al. Plasma Levels of Trace Elements Have an Implication on Interferon Treatment of Children with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection. Biol Trace Elem Res 135, 153–161 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8507-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8507-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation