Increase of serum ceruloplasmin in pregnancy in women treated with oral ovulation inhibitors and in men treated with estrogens

Immunologic determination of serum ceruloplasmin levels in normal healthy women in women treated with oral combined or sequential contraceptive preparations in women in late pregnancy and in men treated with estrogens for prostatic hypertrophy is reported. Serum ceruloplasmin levels were higher in all treated subjects and in pregnant women than in the control women. This elevation is probably due to estrogens since it occurred in women using sequential preparations and in men treated with estrogens. These results explain the effect of estrogens on copper metabolism and contribute to the differential diagnosis of hyperceruloplasminemia the concept of an estrogen etiology.(AUTHORS MODIFIED)