Blood plasma levels of microelements in patients with history of optic neuritis.

Purpose: To determine the concentration of microelements in the blood of patients with a history of retrobulbar optic neuritis (ON).

Materials And Methods: We examined 36 patients (18-63 years of age) - 11 with demyelinating ON (Group 1) and 25 with isolated ON (Group 2) - all of whom had been treated for retrobulbar ON. The control group comprised 38 healthy volunteers. Using atomic absorption spectroscopy, blood levels of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) were evaluated.

Results: Compared with the control group, concentrations of Cd were elevated in Groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.003 and p = 0.003, respectively); Group 1 had higher levels of Cu (p = 0.02). Patients from both groups had significantly lower levels of Fe (p = 0.0003) compared with controls. No difference in the concentration of any of the microelements was found between Groups 1 and 2.

Conclusion: Disturbances in Cd, Cu and Fe homeostasis may be associated with the inflammatory process of ON.