Elemental bioimaging for the diagnosis of Wilson´s disease by means of LA-ICP-MS
- Wilson´s disease, a rare genetic disorder of the copper metabolism, causes the copper accumulation in various organs, leading to manifold hepatic, neurological and psychiatric symptoms. To study the elemental distribution, human Wilson´s disease liver samples were analyzed by means of LA-ICP-MS. Results demonstrated an inhomogeneous copper and iron distribution in human liver with hotspots of very high intensities. Both elements were quantified by an external calibration using matrix-matched standards made of gelatin, showing concentrations up to several thousand micrograms per gram. Additionally, results were validated by means of synchrotron radiation based μXRF at the BAMline at BESSYII (Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin).