see also:

• copper
• Wilson's disease

• usual serum levels are 0.15-0.30 g/L

• may be due to:
  • acute phase response
  • liver disease
  • pregnancy
  • oestrogen Rx

• may be due to:
  • Wilson's disease
    • molar copper/caeruloplasmin ratio is increased in Wilson's disease due to increased albumin-bound copper.
    • a normal level does not exclude Wilson's disease
    • usually associated with high 24 hr urinary copper levels (this may also be be increased in copper toxicity such as Indian childhood cirrhosis and also in primary biliary cirrhosis)
  • liver failure
  • Mencke's disease (copper/cearuloplasmin ratio is decreased)
  • idiopathic hypocaeruloplasminaemia
    • occurs as a non-pathogenic genetic variant
  • acaeruloplasminemia
    • causes massive iron overload