The Relationship between Carbonic Anhydrases and Zinc Concentration of Erythrocytes in Patients under Chronic Hemodialysis

The levels of carbonic anhydrase I and II isozymes in human erythrocytes were determined using the single radial immunodiffusion method in 53 patients (29 males, 24 females) under chronic hemodialysis, and zinc concentration in erythrocytes were also determined.

Both carbonic anhydrase I and II levels and zinc concentration in erythrocytes were observed to be significantly increased in chronic hemodialysis patients as compared against healthy adults (carbonic anhydrase I: p<0.001, carbonic anhydrase II: p<0.001, zinc: p<0.001). ·

In chronic hemodialysis patients, a significant positive correlation was found between both carbonic anhydrase I and II and zinc concentration in erythrocytes (carbonic anhydrase I and zinc: p<0.01, carbonic anhydrase II and zinc: p<0.02).

These results suggest that increase of carbonic anhydrases is a cause for increase of zinc concentration in erythrocytes of chronic hemodialysis patients.