[Blood copper levels in a group of patients with asbestosis].
Colorimetry was used to assay blood copper levels in 13 asbestosis patients (mean age 55.5) selected by excluding all cases with an evident clinical anamnesis of dietary imbalances or other significant pathologies. The results show increased blood copper in 11 out of 13 patients, the mean level in this group being significantly higher than that in a control group (p less than 0.01). The phenomenon, already described in other interstitial lung diseases, may well be attributable to enhanced reabsorption of the metal due to the intensified activity of a copper enzyme lysyl oxidase that is involved in collagen synthesis.
Avolio
G
G
Ospedale San Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, Torino.
Galietti
F
F
Giorgis
G E
GE
Oliaro
A
A
Gallo
E
E
Barberis
S
S
Onoscuri
E
E
D001195:Asbestosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002151:Calorimetry; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography
D003300:Copper
Tassi sierici di cupremia in un gruppo di soggetti affetti da asbestosi.