[Behavior of blood copper, ceruloplasmin and procollagen III in acute myocardial infarction].

: The authors report the determination of copper, ceruloplasmin and procollagen III peptide serum levels (sPIIIP) in patients affected by acute myocardial infarction. These measurements were taken daily during the first ten days after diagnosis and subsequently every five days until the fortieth after the acute event. A significant increase above the normal values was observed, proportioned to the extension of the infarctuated area, reaching a peak respectively for cupraemia, ceruloplasminaemia and sPIIIP on the fourth, sixth and eighth day after the acute event and still being evident in varying proportion till the 25th-35th day and even further, again in relation to the extension of the infarctuated area. The Authors relate this phenomenon to the involvement of the homeostatic mechanism supposed to face necrotic and critical processes as those which take place during acute myocardial infarction and subsequent riparation. The Authors suggest the clinical use of cupraemia, ceruloplasminaemia and sPIIIP determinations as diagnostic and prognostic indexes of acute myocardial infarction.