Study on low serum zinc level in acute liver disease

Abstract

This study was aimed to clarify the cause of low serum zinc level seen in patients with acute hepatitis (AH) and fulminant hepatitis (FH). Nineteen patients with AH, nineteen patients with FH and ten healthy subjects were studied. Serum level and urinary excretion of zinc and plasma level and urinary excretion of amino acids were measured. Mean serum zinc level in patients with AH and FH was lower than that in healthy subjects. A significant negative correlation was observed between serum zinc level and urinary zinc excretion in patients with AH and FH. A significant positive correlation was observed between plasma total amino acid level and urinary total amino acid excretion and also between serum albumin and serum zinc level. It was suggested that low serum zinc level seen in patients with AH and FH was partly due to excessive urinary zinc excretion caused by hypoalbuminenia and hyperaminoaciduria. © 1988, The Japanese Society of Gastroenterology. All rights reserved.