EVALUATION OF SERUM ZINC LEVEL IN LIVER CIRRHOSIS PATIENTS IN DUHOK GOVERNORATE

Abstract

AbstractBackground: in chronic liver disease, cirrhosis is a consequence that is whereby fibrous scar replaces normal hepatic tissue which leads to progressive loss of liver function. it is mostly caused by alcohol consumption and viral hepatitis b or c. low serum zinc level is prevalent in liver cirrhosis and appears to be due to decreased oral intake especially intake of animal products, increase in cytokines or hormones responsible for zinc breakdown, increases zinc loss from kidneys and decreased gastrointestinal absorption secondary to congestion caused by portal hypertension.aim of study: to measure serum zinc level in liver cirrhosis in duhok governorate.Methods: this case control study was conducted on a population of 70 randomly selected sample of patients with liver cirrhosis from 1st of january 2015 to 30th of december 2015, who come for follow up in the center of gastrointestinal and hepatic disease, duhok governorate, iraq and those who admitted in the medical ward at azadi general teaching hospital and 70 of matched healthy individuals as control group. patients were interviewed, examined, and their blood samples taken for zinc level and assessment of child–pugh score was done for them.Results: the mean zinc level in cases group was 73.11µg/dl versus 81.24 in control group ( p = 0.006). the number of participants, who were low for zinc level was 29 (41.4%) versus 14 (20%) in cases and control groups respectively (p = 0.006). as severity of liver cirrhosis increased, the zinc level decreased, it was 2 (14.3%) in class a, versus 19 (43.2%) in class b, versus 8 (66.7%) in class c of child-pugh score, the p value was significant at 0.024.Conclusion: hypozincemia is very common in patients with liver cirrhosis in duhok. a routine measurement of serum zinc level in these patients is esssential in the management, which will decrease the progression of liver cirrhosis.