Zinc concentrations in serum as related to myocardial infarction.

Zinc concentrations in serum from 99 patients with acute myocardial infarction were correlated with the incidence of further complications and with activities in serum of the "cardiac" enzymes aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase. A significantly subnormal zinc concentration was observed for the patients, the lowest values being observed on the second and third days after infarct, particularly in patients with serious complications. Moreover, a linear correlation was observed between zinc values and enzyme activities until the fourth day after infarct. We conclude that measurement of zinc in the serum may have diagnostic value for acute myocardial infarction, although its prognostic value is still speculative.