Our work aimed at extending the search for abnormalities of trace elements in patients with idiopathic scoliosis to the content of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and selenium (Se) in these subject's hair and serum. A total of 59 patients (54 girls and 4 boys) with idiopathic scoliosis, aged 13 on the average (range, 10-18 years), were examined. The degree of spine curvature deformity ranged between 12 degrees and 82 degrees . The hair of scoliotic patients under examination showed significantly increased content of zinc 263 +/- 108 microg/g (p < 0.01) and copper 46.2 +/- 37.1 microg/g (p < 0.01), and decreased content of selenium 0.194 +/- 0.114 microg/g (p < 0.01) in comparison with the control group. In scoliotic patients, the Cu/Zn ratio in hair (0.186 +/- 0.139) did not differ significantly from the values found in the probands of the control group (0.115 +/- 0.09). The Cu/Se ratio in this group of patients (254.9 +/- 215.9) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) due to a higher Cu value and a lower Se value in comparison with the controls (47.9 +/- 23.7). In comparison with controls, the serum selenium concentration in the group of scoliotic patients was significantly decreased p < 0.05 (0.74 +/- 0.13 micromol/L and 0.98 +/- 0.12 micromol/L). Various changes in the content of trace elements in biological samples taken from patients with idiopathic scoliosis are not accidental. What might bring about a shift in our knowledge is speciation of various forms of trace elements in the organism in relation to idiopathic scoliosis.
(c) 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society