Serum Levels of Zinc and Copper in Cases of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) represents a heterogeneous group of autoimmune diseases that arises before the age of 16 years and lasts more than 6 months. During acute inflammation of the disease, serum copper concentration increases and zinc decreases, that could point to the possible pharmacological properties of these trace elements.

Aim: To measure the serum level of zinc and copper in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) with different subtypes and correlate the levels of zinc and copper with the disease activity.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 40 patients already diagnosed clinically with JIA; patients were followed-up at the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, Children's Hospital, Cairo University.

Results: Out of forty patients, 16 were males (40%) and 24 were females (60%) with a male to female ratio (M: F) of 1:1.5. Out of the forty patients 17 were in activity and 23 were without activity. Thirty age and sex matched controls were included for comparison. Serum copper level was significantly higher in patients with JIA than those of the controls (P= 0.017) while there were no significant difference in serum level of zinc between JIA patients and that of the controls.

Conclusion: Alteration of serum copper and zinc probably is a defense response against JIA; increased copper may be due to inflammation associated, these elements could serve as biomarkers for the disease activity.