title: Serum copper and caeruloplasmin are higher in seropositive than seronegative rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Increased serum copper (sCu) and alpha 2 caeruloplasmin (alpha 2 sCP) concentrations have been reported in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Close parallel changes of sCu and alpha 2 sCP in rheumatoid arthritis have recently been observed by us in 30 subjects. The 'IgM rheumatoid factor positive (IgM-RF)' patients showed higher sCu and alpha 2 sCP concentrations when compared with 'IgM-RF negative'. Moreover a significant correlation was found between sCu alpha 2 sCP and other humoral indexes altered in rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore it seems useful, as further index of inflammation, to test both sCu and alpha 2 sCP.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000032:analysis*; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D002570:Ceruloplasmin