Increased serum copper in primary pulmonary hypertension: a possible pathogenic link?
In conscious sheep, we showed that intravenous infusion of copper sulfate produced a marked increase in pulmonary vascular resistance which was prevented by alpha-adrenergic blockade or catecholamine depletion. Because of these observations, we measured serum copper in 7 patients with primary pulmonary hypertension, and in 6 normal women. The 5 female patients had taken contraceptive and appetite-suppressant medication in the past. The mean serum copper level was significantly higher in patients with pulmonary hypertension, indicating that increased serum copper may be a cause or a marker of this entity.
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000494:pharmacology; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001067:Appetite Depressants; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003300:Copper