Abstract
Background: In humans, Menkes disease is the well-recognized neurological disorder due to inherited copper deficiency. Myelopathy due to acquired copper deficiency is not a well-recognized entity in humans, although myelopathy due to copper deficiency is well documented in some animal species. Patients: We describe 3 patients who developed a progressive spastic-ataxic gait with proprioceptive deficits. All patients had a severe reduction in serum ceruloplasmin and copper levels. Results: All patients had evidence of posterior column dysfunction clinically and on somatosensory evoked potential studies. Two had a signal change in the posterior column on magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord. Conclusions: Patients presenting with otherwise unexplained myelopathies should have their serum ceruloplasmin level measured.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 762-766 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Archives of neurology |
Volume | 61 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2004 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
- Clinical Neurology