Establishing human heart chromium, cobalt and vanadium concentrations by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Objective Chromium, cobalt, and vanadium are used in metallic joint prosthesis. Case studies have associated elevated heart tissue cobalt concentrations with myocardial injury. To document the long term heart metal ion concentrations, a validated inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) method was needed. Method The method utilized a closed-vessel microwave digestion system to digest the samples. An ICP‐MS method utilizing Universal Cell Technology was used to determine our target analyte concentrations. Accuracy was verified using reference materials. Precision, sensitivity, recovery and linearity studies were performed. This method was used to establish a reference range for a non-implant containing cohort of 80 autopsy human heart tissues Results This method demonstrated an analytic measurement range of 0.5–100 ng/mL for each element. Accuracy was within ±10% of target value for each element. Within-run precision for each element was below 20% CV. The chromium, vanadium and cobalt concentrations (mean ± SD) were 0.1523 ± 0.2157 μg/g, 0.0094 ± 0.0211 μg/g and 0.1039 ± 0.1305 μg/g respectively in 80 non-implant containing human heart tissue samples. Conclusions This method provides acceptable recovery of the chromium, cobalt and vanadium in heart tissue; allowing assessment of the effects of metallic joint prosthesis on myocardial health.