Serum calcium concentration as an indicator of intervertebral disk degeneration prognosis.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between serum macro- and trace element contents and the degree of disk degeneration in patients with intervertebral disk herniation (IDH). This study was carried out on 69 subjects (30 women and 39 men) diagnosed with IDH. Blood samples of the subjects were collected, and serum concentrations of the elements that include macroelements, such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and magnesium, and trace elements, such as zinc, iron, copper, and selenium, were determined using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination of the entire lumbar region of the vertebral column was conducted using a 1.5-T MRI scanner. The degree of disk degeneration was classified into three categories. Correlation analysis between the degree of disk degeneration and the serum element was performed using SPSS 16.0. In the correlation analysis between the degree of disk degeneration and the element contents, only calcium was found to be negatively correlated with the degree of disk degeneration (r = -0.332, P < 0.01). Comparison results between male and female groups showed no significant difference in the element content and in the degree of disk degeneration (P > 0.05). Moreover, the serum calcium content showed a significant correlation with the degree of disk degeneration, suggesting that the serum calcium concentration can be used as an indicator of intervertebral disk degeneration prognosis.