title: New aspects of copper and iron metabolism in the myelodysplastic syndromes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is an iron overload condition. Copper deficiency itself might induce dysplastic changes and iron overload. The relationship between the iron and copper metabolism is analyzed in MDS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Copper, iron and ceruloplasmin levels were established, and transferrin saturation determination and HFE mutation analysis were performed in 32 MDS patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven of 32 MDS patients were copper deficient. A decreased copper level occurred together with a significantly elevated iron level and transferrin saturation and in 45% HFE gene mutation. In the normal copper group, twice as many patients had a decreased rather than an elevated iron content and carried the wild-type HFE gene rather than the mutant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Copper deficiency is a frequent finding in MDS. It is desirable to include copper level determination in the initial workup of MDS.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. varkjud@kut.sote.hu
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Várkonyi
authors.forename: Terézia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: Piroska
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sebestyén
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tordai
authors.forename: Hajnalka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Andrikovics
authors.forename: Géza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kollai
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karádi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000032:analysis*; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency; D005260:Female; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: C103673:HFE protein, human; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D014168:Transferrin; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D002570:Ceruloplasmin