title: Copper deficiency myelopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In humans, Menkes disease is the well-recognized neurological disorder due to inherited copper deficiency. Myelopathy due to acquired copper deficiency is not a well-recognized entity in humans, although myelopathy due to copper deficiency is well documented in some animal species.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe 3 patients who developed a progressive spastic-ataxic gait with proprioceptive deficits. All patients had a severe reduction in serum ceruloplasmin and copper levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients had evidence of posterior column dysfunction clinically and on somatosensory evoked potential studies. Two had a signal change in the posterior column on magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients presenting with otherwise unexplained myelopathies should have their serum ceruloplasmin level measured.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minn, USA. kumar.neeraj@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Crum
authors.forename: Ronald C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Vernino
authors.forename: J Eric
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ahlskog
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000172:deficiency*; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D002570:Ceruloplasmin