Ceruloplasmin
Formal name: Ceruloplasmin
Related tests: Copper
The Test
How is it used?
Ceruloplasmin is primarily ordered along with blood and/or urine copper tests to help diagnose Wilsons disease, an inherited disorder associated with decreased levels of ceruloplasmin and excess storage of copper in the liver, brain, and other organs. Rarely, it may be ordered to help diagnose or differentiate between conditions associated with copper deficiencies.
When is it ordered?
It is ordered along with copper tests when someone has signs and symptoms that the doctor suspects may be due to Wilsons disease such as:
anemia
nausea, abdominal pain
jaundice
fatigue
behavioral changes
tremors
difficulty walking and/or swallowing
dystonia
Rarely, ceruloplasmin may also be ordered along with copper tests when your doctor suspects that you have a copper deficiency and periodically if monitoring is recommended.
What does the test result mean?
Low ceruloplasmin levels are not diagnostic of a specific condition and are usually evaluated along with copper tests.
If ceruloplasmin and blood copper concentrations are decreased, urine copper levels are increased, then the patient may have Wilsons disease.
About 5% of the patients with Wilsons disease who have neurological symptoms will have normal ceruloplasmin levels as will up to 40% of those with hepatic symptoms.
If ceruloplasmin and urine and/or blood copper concentrations are low, then the patient may have a copper deficiency.
Anything that interferes with the supply of copper or with the bodys ability to metabolize copper has the potential to affect blood ceruloplasmin and copper concentrations.
Test results may include:
Is there anything else I should know?
Ceruloplasmin may be increased in a variety of circumstances where the test is not used as a clinical tool. These may include:
Ceruloplasmin is an acute phase reactant. It is frequently elevated when someone has inflammation, severe infection, tissue damage, and may be increased with some cancers.
It may be increased during pregnancy and with the use of estrogen, oral contraceptives, and medications such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and valproic acid.
Ceruloplasmin is not a routine test. Unless your doctor suspects that you have Wilsons disease or a problem with your copper metabolism, it is likely that you will not ever have this test performed.
