Copper Deficiency

From Anvita Health Wiki

Contents 1 Etiology 2 Pathology 3 Clinical-manifestations 4 Laboratory 5 Differential-diagnosis 6 Management 7 More General Terms 8 Additional Terms 9 References

Etiology

• copper-deficient parenteral nutrition
• gastrectomy or gastric bypass surgery
• chelation
• excessive zinc

• zinc competes with copper for absorption by the gut
• supplements
• denture cream

• genetic

• Menkes disease
• X-linked congenital failure of copper absorption

Pathology

• myelopathy with predilection for posterior columns & corticospinal tracts [3]
• abnormal collagen crosslinking

Clinical-manifestations

• myelopathy with or without an associated neuropathy
• muscle weakness
• hypopigmentation
• decrease sensation to light touch & pinprick
• loss of sensation to vibration & proprioception
• paresthesias
• in animals, ataxia & spasticity

Laboratory

• complete blood count

• iron- refractory hypochromic anemia
• leukopenia

• serum copper is low
• serum ceruloplasmin is low

Differential-diagnosis

• vitamin B12 deficiency (overlap of clinical manifestations) [3]

Management

• copper suplementation

More General Terms

• metabolic disease

Additional Terms

• copper in serum

References

1. Wikipedia: Copper deficiency [1]
2. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis & Management by Laboratory Methods, 21st edition, McPherson RA & Pincus MR (es), W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, PA. 2007, pg 385
3. Geriatric Review Syllabus, 7th edition Parada JT et al (eds) American Geriatrics Society, 2010

copper deficiency