Analytical procedures for diagnosis of trace element disorders.

Trace elements levels in tissues show changes in various diseases including inborn errors of metabolism. Such changes may be primary or secondary due to stress or diseases of the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Measurement of trace elements in these cases may be essential both for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Trace element measurements can also be useful in other areas of clinical interest including nutrition, toxicity and therapy with inorganic pharmaceutical agents. The available techniques for measuring trace elements in tissues are summarized and the various problems of each are discussed.