Relationship of calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper concentrations in the arterial wall and serum in atherosclerosis obliterans and aneurysm.

Changes in copper concentration in the arterial wall are important because of cross-linkage formation in collagen and elastin. The breakdown of the elastic layer is characteristic for aneurysm and is affected by the abnormalities in copper metabolism. This study was undertaken to evaluate Ca, Mg, Zn and Cu concentrations and their relationships in the arterial wall, serum and calcified plaque in atherosclerosis obliterans (AO) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AA). Samples of the aorta wall were obtained at the endarterectomy in AO and the vascular reconstruction in AA. Elements were determined by means of atomic absorption spectrometry. Serum concentrations of Zn and Cu were higher and that of Ca lower in AO as compared to AA and the controls. Arterial concentrations of Zn, Cu and Mg were higher in AO as compared to AA. The ratios of element concentrations in serum (Ca/Mg, Ca/Zn and Mg/Cu) were higher in serum in AA than in AO. Positive correlations were calculated for Ca and Mg (r > or = 0.74), Ca and Zn (r > or = 0.73), Mg and Zn (r > or = 0.90) in the arterial wall in AO and AA. Low but significant correlation was calculated for Cu concentrations between serum and the arterial wall in AA (r = 0.43). Concentrations of Ca, Mg, Zn and Cu were higher in plaque than in the surrounding tissue. The results indicate differences in arterial and serum concentrations of Ca, Mg, Zn and Cu between AO and AA and the accumulation of these elements in the plaque rather than in the surrounding vascular tissue.