The relationship between serum copper/zinc ratio and classificationas well as prognosis of Hodgkin's disease

AIM:To clarify the relationship between serum copper/zinc ratio(CZR) and histopathological classification as well as prognosis of Hodgkin's disease (HD). METHODS:The serum copper level(SCL),serum zinc level(SZL)and CZR were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry(AAS)in 135 patients with HD and 100 healthy individuals.RESULTS:The results showed that SCL and CZR were higher and SZL was lower in patients with HD than in healthy individuals (P＜0.01). SCL and CZR were significantly higher in the patients with lymphocyte depleted type(LD)than mixed cellulal type(MC), SCL and CZR were higher in MC type than nodular sclerosis type(NS)and lymphocyte predominance type (LP)(P＜0.01). It was also found that with the development of the disease, the SCL and CZR elevated but SZL dropped. And with the alleviation of the disease, the SCL and CZR rose while SZL dropped. While the illness is relieved and the SCL and CZR markedly dropped and SCZ rose. SCL and CZR were strongly correlated with histopathologic type and clinical stage of tumor.CONCLUSION: SCL, SZL and CZR are parameters useful for clarifying histopathological classification, clinical stage and prognosis of HD.