RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Copper deficiency caused by excessive alcohol consumption
JF BMJ Case Reports
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP bcr-2017-220921
DO 10.1136/bcr-2017-220921
VO 2017
A1 Shibazaki, Shunichi
A1 Uchiyama, Shuhei
A1 Tsuda, Katsuji
A1 Taniuchi, Norihide
YR 2017
UL http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2017/bcr-2017-220921.abstract
AB Copper deficiency is a disease that causes cytopaenia and neuropathy and can be treated by copper supplementation. Long-term tube feeding, long-term total parenteral nutrition, intestinal resection and ingestion of zinc are known copper deficiency risk factors; however, alcohol abuse is not. In this case, a 71-year-old man had difficulty waking. He had a history of drinking more than five glasses of spirits daily. He was well until 3 months ago. A month before his visit to our hospital, he could not eat meals but continued drinking. He had macrocytic anaemia on admission. Copper and ceruloplasmin levels were markedly low, and we diagnosed copper deficiency. There were no other known risk factors for copper deficiency. After he began drinking cocoa as a copper supplement, the anaemia ameliorated and he was able to walk. This is the first report showing alcohol abuse as a risk factor for copper deficiency.