Iron excess treatable by copper supplementation in acquired aceruloplasminemia: a new form of secondary human iron overload?

摘要

Ceruloplasmin plays a major role in iron mobilization from the tissues stores through its ferroxidase activity.1-2 Hereditary aceruloplasminemia is an autosomal recessive iron overload disorder resulting from mutations in the ceruloplasmin gene.3-4 Acquired hypoceraloplasminemia is observed in copper deficiency, which has been reported to cause anemia, neutropenia,5 and, more recently, neurologic manifestations like myelo-neuropathy with sensory ataxia and spastic gait.6 We report here the first case of iron overload related to acquired aceruloplasminemia in a patient suffering from copper deficiency.