Of 42 patients with lymphomas (Hodgkin's disease, reticulum cell sarcoma and lymphosarcoma) 30 (69%) had raised serum copper concentrations. Twenty-three of 24 who had generalized disease had increased serum copper level and, of the 18 with localized disease, 12 had normal, six had raised serum copper. In all, the clinical result of the treatment given to the patient correlated with the alteration in serum copper. T h e findings were the same for Hodgkin's disease, lymphosarcoma, and reticulum cell sarcoma. Serum copper was found to be greatly elevated also in multiple myeloma, and lymphoepithelial tumors (Schminke tumor). These observations suggest that serum copper measurements can be used as prognostic and theraputic index, and that this is a useful auxiliary test in the management of patients with lymphomas.
0PPF.R IS FOUND IN BLOOD I N THE RED
c blood cells which have a constant level and in the plasma which shows a variation in a number of pathologic and nonpathologic conditions.18 Holmberg and Laurell6.7 have shown that alpha-2 globulin contains more than 90% of total serum copper, and they established the structure of this protein. Copper is present in the plasma in two fractions4Jg: the protein-bound plasma copper (beta metal binding globulin), which constitutes 4% of the total serum copper, and the metalloenzyme ceruloplasmin, which is approximately 96% of the total serum copper.
The protein-bound plasma copper is the means of transport of copper to the liver.