Copper and zinc concentrations in atherosclerotic plaque and serum in relation to lipid metabolism in patients with carotid atherosclerosis Koncentracija bakra i cinka u aterosklerotskom plaku i serumu u odnosu na metabolizam lipida kod bolesnika sa karotidnom aterosklerozom

Background/Aim. Some oligoelements are now investigated as possibly having a role in atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to compare the concentrations of copper and zinc in the serum and carotid plaque and parameters of lipid me- tabolism in patients with different morphology of carotid atherosclerotic plaque. Methods. Carotid endarterectomy due to the significant atherosclerotic stenosis was per- formed in 91 patients (mean age 64 ± 7). The control group consisted of 27 patients (mean age 58 ± 9), without carotid atherosclerosis. Atheroscletoric plaques were divided into four morphological groups, according to ultrasonic and intraopera- tive characteristics. Copper and zinc concentrations in the plaque, carotid artery and serum were measured by atomic ab- sorption spectrophotometry. Results. Serum copper concen- trations were statistically significantly higher in the patients with hemorrhagic in comparison to those with calcified plaque (1.2 ± 0.9 μmol/L vs 0.7 ± 0.2 μmol/L, respectively; p = 0.021). Zinc concentrations were statistically significantly low- er in plaques of the patients with fibrolipid in comparison to those with calcified plaques (22.1 ± 16.3 μg/g vs 38.4 ± 25.8 μg/g, respectively; p = 0.024). A negative significant correla- tion was found for zinc and triglycerides in the serum in all the patients (r = -0.52, p = 0.025). In the control group we also demonstrated a positive significant correlation for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and copper in the serum (r = 0.54, p = 0.04). Conclusion. The data obtained in the current study are consistent with the hypothesis that high copper and lower zinc levels may contribute to atherosclerosis and its sequelae as fac- tors in a multifactorial disease. Further studies are necessary in order to conclude whether high concentration of copper and zinc in the serum could be risk factors for atherosclesrosis.