Summary

The aim of this study was to investigate the level of anti-AGE antibodies (AGE Abs) and serum concentration of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) in the blood of 11 patients (group 1-G1, mean age 52.45±3.59 years), with occupational vegetative polyneuropathy of upper limbs (OVPUL) and 9 control patients (control group-G2, mean age 51.5±2.18 years). AGE Abs were assessed with direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Atomic-absorption spectrometry was used to determine Zn, Cu and Se concentrations in the human's sera.The level of AGE Abs in the patients with OVPUL was significantly higher than in controls (p = 0.008). The patients with OVPUL had a significantly decreased concentration of serum Se, as compared to control group (p = 0.001). There were no differences in serum concentration of Zn and Cu in all groups. Our data shows a negative correlation between increased levels of AGE Abs and the serum levels of Se in patients with OVPUL (r =-0.365, p = 0.047). Our study confirms that serum level of Zn, Cu and Se can be critical for maintenance of anti-oxidative events and propose that these trace elements may be important physiopathologically in occupational vegetative polyneuropathy of upper limbs