Abstract

Background: The serum copper (Cu) and ceruloplasmin (Cp) concentrations are common blood markers of copper metabolism. In altered physiological conditions, Cp can act as an acute phase reactant and its concentration may increase.

Objective: To evaluate specific enzymatic activity of Cp as a potential indicator of Cu status and its correlation with serum Cu level.

Methods: Serum Cu levels were estimated as per NIOSH method. Specific enzymatic activity of Cp was determined from enzymatic activity and immune concentration of Cp as per standard methods. The statistical analysis was carried out using the package of social science (SPSS) software.

Results: The difference in mean specific enzymatic activity of Cp was statistically significant between clinical and control groups. In control population, the correlation between serum Cu level and specific enzymatic activity of Cp was moderate and statistically significant (r=0.566, p=0.014, N=18) as compared to the clinical group (r=0.338, p=0.016, N=50).

Conclusion: The study revealed that clinical group was significantly different in specific enzymatic activity of Cp as compared to control group. Besides this, the specific enzymatic activity of Cp was moderately but significantly correlated with serum Cu level in control group but did not reveal conclusive evidence in clinical population.

Keywords: Serum Cu level, ceruloplasmin, enzymatic activity of Cp, immune concentration of Cp, specific enzymatic activity of Cp, acute phase reactant.