Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors induce elevations in human whole-blood zinc levels

A. M. Walker, C. Arrigg, E. Hertzmark and D. L. Epstein

The use of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) was associated with mean increases in whole-blood zinc levels of 82 micrograms/dL and 70 micrograms/dL, respectively, in a cross-sectional survey and in a prospective study of patients with glaucoma. The time course of the increase suggests that CAIs induce reticulocyte synthesis of carbonic anhydrase.