Copper in urine

Copper in urine

Clinical significance

Copper is a trace element included in important enzymesów. In the body, most copper is found in skeletal muscles, bones and liver. Copper is needed for normal erythropoiesis and osteogenesis. Copper deficiency is rare, as food generally contains sufficient amounts of this element. Rare causes of copper deficiency include: impaired absorption syndrome, loss of copper in the urine, increased copper requirements in the treatment of megaloblastic anemia and chronic administration of preparationsów of zinc compounds (e.g., in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers). Copper deficiency can cause anemia refractory to iron treatment, neurological disorders caused by catecholamines deficiency, abnormal hairów growth and osteoporosis. A major indication for the determination of copper in urine is the suspicion of Wilson's disease, a genetic disorder inherited autosomal recessively. Copper accumulates excessively in tissues, mainlyóin the liver, due to a defect in the copper transport protein. Symptoms of the disease are mainly associated with liver and nervous system damage.

Patient Preparation

Material: Urine