Assessment of Plasma electrolyte levels in Sudanese women with breast cancer

Abstract

This is a case control study conducted during the period from March to July 2014 in radiation Isotopes center Khartoum state (RICK), the study aims to evaluate plasma sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus in patients with breast cancer ,and to correlate them with age and duration of the disease. Fifty women with breast cancer and fifty healthy women as control were enrolled. Venous blood samples were collected in heparin anticoagulant and plasma was obtained. Sodium and potassium measured using flame photometer, calcium and phosphorus measured using chemical methods. Spss Computer Program used for data analysis .The results show low plasma sodium (mean control=140+4.5mmol/l case=136±4.6mmol/l p.value 0.00),low plasma potassium (mean control=4±0.59 mmol/l case=3.5±0.59 mmol/l p.value= 0.00), high plasma calcium(mean control=9.1+0.56mg/dl case=10.7±1.4mg/dl p.value0.00) and normal plasma phosphorus(mean control=3.36±0.53mg/dl case=3.41±0.78mg/dl p.value0.745) in cases when compared with control groups. Also there was no correlation between these parameters with age p.values sodium (0.872),potassium(0.481), calcium (0.101),phosphate (0.722) , and weak negative correlation between sodium(p.value = 0.011 r = -0.254), potassium (p.value =0.007 r = -0.268) with duration of the disease ,weak positive correlation between calcium (p.value =0.00 r = 0.427) and duration of the disease. No correlation between phosphorus ( p .value = 0.09)and duration of the disease. This study is concluded that the means of plasma sodium and potassium are significantly decreased in patients with breast cancer, the mean of calcium is significantly increase and no change in phosphate mean. No correlation between this parameter with age ,weak negative correlation between sodium and potassium with duration of the disease, weak positive correlation with calcium and no correlation with phosphate.