Elevated Serum Copper Concentration in Patients with Leg Ulcers of MixedEtiology

Overview

The objective of the present work was an attempt to detect the reason of elevated copper serumconcentrations in patients with leg ulcers of a mixed etiology.In a group of patients with leg ulcers (n=42) an increase of the serum copper concentrations wasobserved - the arithmetic mean was 61.0 mol/l, age 32-82 years as compared with a group of healthysubjects (n=72), arithmetic mean 19.45 mol/l, age 30-82 years.The molecular cause of this increase is not known. However, the conclusion was drawn that thecause of this increase of the copper concentration in patients is a metabolic reaction of the organismwhich traps a larger amount of copper from food as a result of iron deficiency in plasma and theensuing reduced binding capacity of iron and transferrin.The increased copper level leads to better iron utilization by the body and support thus theimmune system of the organism.To achieve an equilibrium of all chemical processes in these patients it is important to add notonly iron but also other substances such a zinc, vitamin C, and other mineral substances.

Key words:
copper - vitamin C - leg ulcer of mixed etiology