Effects of heavy metals in acute ischemic stroke patients

Abstract

Cerebrovascular disease is the second commonest cause of mortality globally and among the commonest causes of disability. However, research executed to probe the heavy metal exposure-stroke incidence relationship is scarce. Accordingly, we executed our study to probe the relationship of heavy metal concentrations (ie, concentrations of lead [Pb], mercury [Hg], cadmium [Cd], and arsenic) in the serum and urine of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with several patient variables.For enrollment, we chose patients who had a first AIS within 7 days after the onset of a stroke. Thus, 33 newly diagnosed patients with AIS were recruited. We determined the aforementioned metals' concentrations by executing inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We also gauged the association between such metal concentrations and patient variables by employing Spearman correlation coefficient. To examine the differences in metal concentrations between the different variables, we implemented an independent Mann-Whitney U test.In our cohort analysis, we noted serum Pb and Cd concentrations to be positively correlated with serum creatinine and hemoglobin. Serum and urine Cd concentrations had a negative correlation with impaired HbA1c in AIS patients. Urine Hg had a positive correlation with C-reactive protein in the participants. Participants who smoked or consumed alcohol had significantly higher Pb and Cd levels in serum than did those who neither smoked nor drank. Patients with AIS who smoked or consumed alcohol had high levels of serum Pb and serum Cd than did those who did not. Patients with AIS who consumed alcohol had significantly higher Pb and Hg urine concentrations than did those who did not.Our study indicated that serum Cd and Pb elevation increased the AIS risk in southern Taiwan patients.

Occupational Risk Factors for Stroke: A Comprehensive Review

“…Exposure to several chemicals, such as lead (Pb), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and CS2, is a potential risk factor for stroke. 69 However, only a few epidemiological studies have reported an association between occupational chemical exposure and cerebrovascular disease. 70 Chemical exposure is more common in developing countries.…”

Assessing the Impact of PM2.5-Bound Arsenic on Cardiovascular Risk among Workers in a Non-ferrous Metal Smelting Area: Insights from Chemical Speciation and Bioavailability

“…Arsenic (As) has been proven to induce various CVDs such as coronary heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, stroke, arrhythmia, and hypertension . Heavy metal As itself has cardiotoxicity, while fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) carrying heavy metal As (PM 2.5 -As) in nonferrous metal smelting areas has the characteristics of diverse species, high concentration, long transmission distance in the atmosphere and high absorption rate in organisms, which may cause greater cardiovascular damage. − According to our previous study, approximately 25.0% of workers from smelting areas exhibited abnormal cardiopulmonary indexes, suggesting an increased risk of cardiovascular health issues among workers in these areas .…”

“…Hence, according to the existing smelting technology and control measures, identifying the main exposure pathways of heavy metals associated with smelting sites and elucidating the ultimate health effects of heavy metal exposure are not only practical requirements for over 2 million employees and residents, but also hotspots and challenges for research in the fields of earth environmental science, epidemiology, and life sciences. Arsenic (As) has been proven to induce various CVDs such as coronary heart disease, 3 peripheral arterial disease, 4 stroke, 5 arrhythmia, 6 and hypertension. 7 Heavy metal As itself has cardiotoxicity, while fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) carrying heavy metal As (PM 2.5 -As) in nonferrous metal smelting areas has the characteristics of diverse species, high concentration, long transmission distance in the atmosphere and high absorption rate in organisms, which may cause greater cardiovascular damage.…”

Disturbed Ratios between Essential and Toxic Trace Elements as Potential Biomarkers of Acute Ischemic Stroke

“…Unbalanced levels of metals in the body have been shown to disrupt homeostasis and contribute to the progression of various diseases, including ischemic stroke [ 5 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. However, the indication regarding the connection between exposure to heavy metals and stroke risk remains inconclusive.…”