R. SELVARAJU*, R. GANAPATHI RAMAN*, R. NARAYANASWAMY*, R. VALLIAPPAN**, R. BASKARAN*

*Department of Engineering Physics, **Department of Chemistry (DDE), ***Department of Surgery, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar – 608 002, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract. The objective of this study was to measure the alterations in serum elements, viz., copper (Cu), iron (Fe), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) in patients (n = 39) with chronic hepatitis B and to compare them with the results of healthy volunteers (n = 24) by using ICP-AES. Significant low serum levels of Se, Zn and high level of serum Cu were observed in patients with hepatitis B virus, as compared with normal healthy controls. Serum Fe concentrations did not show alterations in hepatitis B patients compared with healthy individuals. The study showed that Cu, Fe, Se and Zn concentrations in serum of hepatitis B patients were 1.499 ± 0.297 ppm, 1.211 ± 0.206 ppm, 0.042 ± 0.014 ppm and 0.550 ± 0.094 ppm respectively. In healthy individuals these concentrations were 1.003 ± 0.159 ppm, 1.272 ± 0.340 ppm, 0.059 ± 0.008 ppm, 0.883 ± 0.070 ppm respectively. The results were statistically compared (p < 0.05) with those of healthy individuals. The degrees of involvement of trace elements due to hepatitis B virus in human blood serum were discussed. This study supports the association of trace elements such Se, Cu and Zn with hepatitis B.
Key words: hepatitis B, serum, copper, iron, selenium, zinc, ICP-AES.

Corresponding author’s e-mail: drselvarajufeatau@yahoo.co.in

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