Effects of antimonial therapy on serum zinc, copper and iron concentrations in patients with cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Turkey.

The effects of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) infections on total content of the essential trace elements and alterations of these elements content during antimonial therapy, serum iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), were determined in 40 patients with CL. 32 healthy subjects were selected as control group. Pentavalent antimonial compounds (Glucantime) were given intramuscularly (20 mg/kg/day) for three weeks in patients group. Serum Cu and Zn levels were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry and Fe levels were determined by colorimetrically. Before antimonial therapy; Cu levels were found significantly higher. However, Zn and Fe levels were found significantly lower in the patients group than those of controls. Cu levels were found tended to decrease, while Zn and Fe levels tended to increase during antimonial therapy. There was a negative correlation between serum Cu and Zn levels in CL patients (r = -0.322, p < 0.05). The findings showed that CL affects the essential trace element content and these changes began to disappear during antimonial therapy.