High copper reading -- issue resolved

Hello all,

I reported a couple weeks ago that when I had copper tested at both my 3-month and 6-month post-op labs, it was well over the normal range.  My PCP referred me to a liver specialist for possible diagnosis of liver storage disease.

I learned some very valuable information that I'd like to share with you.  Apparently copper exists in two states in our body -- "free" and "bound."  The bound version is attached to ceruloplasmin and is harmless.  The free version can cause widespread damage.  It turns out that the usual copper lab test does not distinguish between the two, so a high copper reading is ambiguous.

The liver doc ran the ceruloplasmin test on me and it turns out to be high too.  That's a good thing because all that copper is bound to it, doing no damage.  The doc thinks my copper (and cerulopalsmin) is high becaue I'm eating more copper supplements -- in my multi, my protein bar, and my protein shake.  My body is regulating the copper by making more ceruloplasmin. 

If you do internet research on copper storage disease or high copper lab readings, you mostly find dire news about having Wilson's disease, a genetic abnormality in storing and using copper.  Most Wilson's disease is diagnosed in childhood because all that free copper in the blood does damage and does it fairly quickly.  My doc said that there was virtually no way a 45 year old woman could have Wilson's disease and not be already severely disabled. 

So I am going to add the ceruloplasmin test to all of my other labs so that I always know my high copper lab test is accompanied by high ceruloplasmin.

Thanks for all your support!

Ramie A.

 Thanks for the info and I'm glad everything turned out well for you!

Thanks for the great info! I will ask for that when I have my labs done next week!

It is my suggestion that you only ask for the additional test if your first copper reading comes back high.  You don't want to pay for tests you don't need.  Of course, that's up to you and your doctor.

Thanks for the info.  I did not know that.  That's what I was thinking, I would ask for the additional test if my copper ever comes back high.  So far it's always been right in the middle.