Trace Elements Investigations in the Pathogenesis of Hypertension and Heart Disease Patients in Baghdad-Iraq

Trace elements are essential for life and their concentrations in serum vary with human ecology and different pathological conditions. The aim of the study is to investigate the role of these elements in hypertensive patients with associated problem of Heart Disease. Determinations of elements Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn Se, Pb and Zn were performed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The study involved 30 hypertensive with heart diseases patients and 12 healthy subjects who served as controls. Our results show higher values of the toxic elements such as Pb, and Cd, and lower levels of Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn Se and Zn in serum of hypertensive patients with associated problem of Heart Disease in comparison with normal healthy controls. Alterations in the serum concentrations of both essential trace elements and toxic elements may probably be a contributory factor in the pathogenesis of hypertension and heart disease. More extensive studies with better analytical tools are expected to produce better results.