[Trace element content in the blood and organs in arteriosclerosis].

The content of 10 trace elements was studied by employing the neutron-activation method and the lead level determined through the spectral analysis in the whole blood, aorta, the heart muscle, liver, intesties (small and large), in the pancreas, adrenal glands, the spleen, lungs of accident victims, among whom 87 were practically healthy and 91 had atherosclerosis. The latter demonstrated in a number of organs (especially in the aorta and liver) a reduction in the content, which increased with age and intensity of atherosclerotic changes, of nickel, manganese, zinc, cobalt, vanadium and iron and rise in the lead, gallium, copper, bismuth and bromine level. The disclosed data bear witness to a definite part played by a number of trace elements in the atherogenesis.