Plasma copper and ceruloplasmin in patients with alcoholic liver steatosis.
BACKGROUND
In blood plasma, copper is transported in form of ceruloplasmin. Ceruloplasmin is not only a simple transport protein, it is a multifunctional protein with other various physiological functions. At least a part of these functions is connected with ceruloplasmin's enzymatic activity.


OBJECTIVE
The effect of alcoholic fatty liver on the metabolism of copper and ceruloplasmin was studied.


METHODS
Patients suffering from alcoholic liver steatosis were enrolled in the study. The serum levels of copper, apoceruloplasmin and oxidase activity of ceruloplasmin were determined.


RESULTS
The copper level in patients with liver steatosis was moderately decreased in comparison to healthy controls. The difference in apoceruloplasmin levels between patients with liver steatosis and healthy controls was not significant, but the specific activity of ceruloplasmin in patients was significantly decreased in comparison to controls (0.59 vs. 0.82, p<0.001). The decreased specific activity of ceruloplasmin in spite of normal levels of apoceruloplasmin in patients with alcoholic liver steatosis suggested some problems in copper metabolism in these patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our study showed disturbances in copper and ceruloplasmin metabolism in patients with alcoholic liver steatosis. We can conclude that the determination of blood plasma ceruloplasmin level on the basis of its enzymatic activity is better than a simple determination of apoceruloplasmin (Tab. 2, Ref. 14).
Uhlikova
E
E
Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Kupcova
V
V
Szantova
M
M
Turecky
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001059:Apoproteins / Q000097:blood; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000032:analysis*; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D005235:Fatty Liver, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001059:Apoproteins; C006612:apoceruloplasmin; D003300:Copper; D002570:Ceruloplasmin