A clinical study of the relationship of selenium plasma level to atopic dermatitis, a comparison of the results of determination using the methods of galvanostatic dissolution chronopotentiometry and atomic absorption spectrometry

Summary

In the human organism, the external factors of the environment, smoking and stress provoke the production of very reactive free particles – radicals. In the case of deficiency of suitable protective mechanisms in the organism, these reactive particles produce the conditions for the development of inflammatory diseases in the body. The human body possesses protective mechanisms of its own to defend the organisms against free radicals. From this viewpoint, particularly antioxidants, i.e. substances capable to neutralize free radicals, are of increased importance. One of the antioxidants of key importance is the nutritional element selenium, the importance of which has already been confirmed in a number of different studies ¹⁾. The present paper aimed to elaborate and optimize the working conditions in the identification and determination of selenium in blood plasma in patients suffering from atopic dermatitis, an inflammatory skin disease. The selenium values found in patients suffering from the above-mentioned disease were compared with the selenium values determined in a group of healthy subjects. The paper also aimed to evaluate the connection between a decreased selenium level and the organism and atopic dermatitis as well as to examine the influence of the administration of a preparation containing selenium upon the course of the disease. The procedure of measurement was verified by comparing the results of selenium content obtained by a more recent electrochemical analytical method – galvanostatic solution chronopotentiometry (SCP) – with the results obtained by a comparative method – hydrid generation atomic absorption spectrophotometry (HGAAS).

Key words:
selenium – antioxidative agents – galvanostatic solution chronopotentiometry – atopic dermatitis