Neonatal Copper Deficiency

Abstract

PURE copper deficiency in man has probably never been observed. When it occurs other deficiencies complicate the picture. In infants, a disorder characterized by hypocupremia, hypoferremia, neutropenia, hypoproteinemia and anemia has been reported.^{1 , 2} Recently, we had the opportunity to study a three-month-old, low-birth-weight infant with the clinical and laboratory picture of copper deficiency who was not marasmic and had been thriving rather well.Case ReportJ.P., a 3-month-old male Indian infant, was referred for evaluation of anemia and a Central-nervous-system disorder. He had been born at 34 weeks' gestation, with an Apgar score of 2 at birth and a weight . . .