From the Research
Significance of Hypocupremia
Hypocupremia, or copper deficiency, is a condition that can have significant effects on the body. Some of the key aspects of hypocupremia include:
- Bone Marrow Failure: Hypocupremia can cause bone marrow failure, leading to cytopenias, which are characterized by low levels of blood cells [(1,2,3)].
- Neurological Disorders: Copper deficiency is associated with neurological disorders, including myeloneuropathy, which can resemble vitamin B12 deficiency [(4,5)].
- Hematological Abnormalities: Hypocupremia can present as a combination of hematological and neurological abnormalities, and may masquerade as a myelodysplastic syndrome 2.
- Causes: Copper deficiency can be caused by various factors, including gastric surgery, gastrointestinal disorders, and malabsorption [(3,5)].
Clinical Features
The clinical features of hypocupremia can vary, but may include:
- Anemia and Neutropenia: These are common hematological abnormalities associated with copper deficiency 2.
- Neurologic Findings: Myeloneuropathy, paresthesia, and pain are common neurologic findings in patients with hypocupremia 4.
- Ambulatory Difficulty: Some patients with hypocupremia may experience ambulatory difficulty 4.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis of hypocupremia typically involves measuring serum copper levels, and treatment involves replacing copper [(1,3)]. It is essential to maintain a high level of suspicion for potential copper deficiency and to obtain a serum copper level to correctly diagnose and treat bone marrow failure due to this condition 1.