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. AIM OF THE STUDY: The effect of alcoholic fatty liver on the metabolism of copper and ceruloplasmin was studied. MATERIAL AND 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).