Blood, 1959, Vol. 14, No. 8, pp. 967-971.
© 1959 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
Plasma Copper and Iron Levels and Plasma Paraphenylene
Diamine Oxidase Activity (Plasma Copper Oxidase
Activity) in Kwashiorkor
B. REIFF 1 and
H. SCHNIEDEN 1
1 Department of Pharmacology, University College, Ibadan, Nigeria.
1. The plasma copper and iron levels, the hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration and the total plasma protein concentration were significantly lower
in patients with kwashiorkor than in controls of the same age group.
2. There was a significant diminution in total circulating copper in the
kwashiorkor patients.
3. Paraphenylene diamine oxidase activity was lower in the patients with
kwashiorkor than in controls, indicating that there is a diminution in the level
of the active group of ceruloplasmin which contains copper.
4. Whether the low plasma copper found is due to dietary deficiency, to
malabsorption of copper, or whether it is secondary to inadequate protein
intake is discussed.
Submitted on June 25, 1958
Accepted on January 16, 1959
