Serum zinc and copper in patients with cerebral vascular disease.

Serum Zn and Cu was investigated in 67 patients with cerebral infarction (CI), in 10 with cerebral hemorrhage (CH), in 14 with transient ischemic attack (TIA) and in 58 control subjects (C). Serum Zn concentration is significantly lower in patients with CH than in C (p < 0.001), and serum Cu is significantly higher than in C in patients with CI (p < 0.005). In patients with CI and in C serum Zn concentration decreased with advancing age. The serum Zn concentration decreased significantly in patients with CI during hospitalisation (p < 0.001), probably due to low intake and insufficient absorption. In patients with CI a significant correlation was found between low levels in serum Zn, on the one hand, and serum cholinesterase and proteinemia, on the other hand. This suggests a diminution of hepatic synthesis of proteins in these patients.