Transition and heavy metals compared to oxidative parameter balance in patients with deep vein thrombosis: A case-control study.

Our study compared copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn), crucial for human normal physio-logy maintenance, and lead (Pb) levels as environmental pollutant, in subjects suffering of deep vein thrombosis of lower limbs (DVTs) vs. healthy subjects. Furthermore, we evaluated oxidative stress parameters, the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as the sum of malondialdehyde or 1,1,3,3-tetraethoxypropane (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal 4-HNE) and cytosolic superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) concentrations in both groups. We recruited 24 DVT cases and 46 healthy subjects as controls. Questionnaire with socio‑demographic, habits and lifestyle were collected. Hair concentrations of Zn, Mn, Cu and Pb were measured by ICP-MS, plasma concentrations of MDA and 4-HNE were measured by HPLC and SOD plasma concentrations were detected by ELISA test. A quantitative and qualitative variables comparison between cases and controls group was made by Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson's Chi-square test, respectively. We found low concentrations of Zn, Mn and Cu vs. high Pb concentrations in DVTs subjects. TBARS were found higher in the cases group, conversely, SOD concentrations were found lower in cases with respect to controls. Furthermore, we found the diet of pathological subjects significantly deficient in vegetables. These results are indicative of a lower enzymatic activity in patients, related to low transition metal levels in the DVTs and high levels of Pb, coupled with an unbalanced diet.