Trace Elements in Prostatic Tissue and Plasma in Prostatic Diseases of Man

Abstract

Zinc, copper and iron have been determined in prostatic Tissue and plasma of subject presenting various prostatic disorders namely benign hyperplasia, fibrous growth, chronic prostatis and malignancy. In malignancy, zinc content was notably decreased and copper level was similarly increased both in tissue and plasma whereas iron was elevated in tissues but lowered in plasma. A fall of copper and rise of zinc concentration in tissue and plasma indicated benign hypertrophy or fibrous prostatic growth; simultaneous increase in plasma iron characterised the former and a fall in this ion suggested the later disorder. In chronic prostatis, copper and zinc showed an increase in tissue and decrease in plasma; iron, in contrast, recorded a fall in tissue and rise in plasma. The diagnostic significance of metallic ions in prostatic disease based on plasma level alone is suggested.