Serum zinc levels in retinitis pigmentosa.

Serum zinc and copper levels were analyzed in 26 retinitis pigmentosa patients and compared with serum zinc levels of a control group. Serum zinc levels were documented to be decreased with a mean concentration of 0.735 +/- 0.167 micrograms/ml (p less than 0.001). Serum copper levels, on the other hand, were found to be increased in retinitis pigmentosa patients with a mean value of 1.261 +/- 0.348 micrograms/ml (p less than 0.001).