Trace element alterations associated with putaminocapsular hemorrhages in the human brain

Two minor and six trace elements (i.e., K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se and Rb) and the wet-to-dry weight ratio were determined in five post-mortem human brains affected by a putaminocapsular hemorrhage. Most elements were 'washed away' from the region of the bleeding. Iron, on the contrary, was accumulated, up to a level comparable with that in blood. The trace element alterations in the cortex, white matter and striatum adjacent to the bleeding were compared to those in the respective border areas of recent middle cerebral artery infarcts. The main difference in elemental alterations within the border areas of both hematomas and infarcts is the higher Fe accumulation in the former. The other elemental alterations in the border areas of hidings are similar, but mostly smaller than those in infarcts. Also the edema formation in cortical and white matter border areas of the hematomas is less than for infarcts. The present findings suggest that in tissues adjacent to putaminocapsular hemorrhages changes occur, but of a milder nature than in border areas of the infarcts. (author)