SERUM LEVELS OF COPPER AND ZINC IN PATIENTS WITH ATOPIC DERMATITIS IN IRAQ

Abstract

Serum copper and zinc were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer in (101) patients with atopic dermatitis they were (59 females and 42 males, with age range of 3-65 years) and (50) healthy volunteers. All patients were attending the Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Medical City Hospital in Baghdad during the period between 1997 and 1998 .The mean serum copper of patients (127.66 µgdl) was significantly higher than that of controls (109.08 µgdl) (P<0.001).There was no significant differences between patients and controls in the concentrations of serum zinc and albumin. These findings suggest that the copper can be utilized as an additional test for the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis patients