What’s Ceruloplasmin?

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Ceruloplasmin is a protein that carries over 90% of the copper in the blood. It is also involved in iron metabolism and has an official name of ferroxidase. There is a test for serum ceruloplasmin levels that rules out rare copper deficiency diseases.
Copper is obtained from the human diet and is required for a variety of functions in the body. Although absorbed in the intestines, the liver stores or produces it for a number of different enzymes. Ceruloplasmin is first synthesized in a form devoid of the copper ion. This form is unstable and degrades rapidly unless copper is added. The liver adds six to seven copper molecules to the precursor form and introduces the copper-transporting enzyme into the bloodstream.

The ceruloplasmin test is a blood test that indicates the levels of this protein in the blood serum. It’s not a routine test and is mostly ordered to help diagnose a rare genetic disorder called Wilson’s disease. With this disorder, the liver fails to incorporate copper into the protein ceruloplasmin. Toxic levels of copper build up in the brain, liver and other organs. This disease is fatal unless the person is quickly treated with copper binders.

Chelators are molecules that bind to metals. They are used medicinally to treat patients with excess metals in their bodies. Chelators are introduced, they bind the metal and are then removed from the bloodstream, along with the excess metal. Different types of chelators bind different types of metals.

There is another rare genetic disorder called aceruloplasminemia which is caused by a mutation in the ceruloplasmin gene. Normally this enzyme removes iron from cells. In its absence, toxic levels of iron build up in the liver, brain, pancreas and retina. As individuals reach middle age, diabetes and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease develop. It is possible to halt the progression of these complications by treatment with an iron chelating agent.

Other reasons for low ceruloplasmin levels include a very rare syndrome known as Menkes disease. Copper deficiency is another reason, as is a vitamin C overdose. Low levels alone cannot be used to diagnose a specific condition. The results are usually considered alongside tests for copper levels.

Reasons for elevated levels can include serious infections, tissue damage, and both chronic and acute inflammation. Pregnancy is another reason for increased ceruloplasmin levels. Additional reasons may include lymphoma, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and various types of cancer, along with brain disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Using oral contraceptives and estrogen can also cause levels to rise.

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