Some aspects of the relation of ceruloplasmin to Wilson's disease

Abstract

Wilson''s disease is characterized by a significant deficiency or absence of the plasma protein, ceruloplasmin, but neither liver disease nor neurologic disease of various other kinds are associated with diminished concentrations of plasma ceruloplasmin. Studies performed in patients with Wilson''s disease indicate that their deficiency of ceruloplasmin is a consequence of impaired synthesis of the protein. Though the mean concentration of plasma ceruloplasmin in a group of schizophrenic patients was slightly higher than the mean of a group of normal individuals, determination of the concentration of ceruloplasmin is of no value in differentiating schizophrenic from normal individuals.