Ceruloplasmin - Definition and Overview

Ceruloplasmin (or caeruloplasmin), officially known as ferroxidase or iron(II):oxygen oxidoreductase, is a copper transport protein found in the blood. It is an enzyme (EC 1.16.3.1 (http://us.expasy.org/cgi-bin/nicezyme.pl?1.16.3.1)).

Interpretation

Decreased levels

Lower than normal ceruloplasmin levels may indicate:

• Menkes' syndrome (Menkes' kinky hair syndrome) (very rare)
• Wilson's disease (a rare copper storage disease)

Elevated levels

Greater than normal ceruloplasmin levels may indicate:

• pregnancy
• lymphoma
• acute and chronic infections (it is an acute phase reactant)
• rheumatoid arthritis

External link

• OMIM 117700 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=117700)