Original Article

Journal of Investigative Dermatology (1972) 58, 28–32; doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep13077206

SERUM COPPER IN PSORIASIS AND OTHER DERMATOSES

Herschel S Zackheim1 and Paul Wolf2

  1. 1Department of Dermatology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, California
  2. 2Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California

Received 13 March 1970; Accepted 22 September 1971.

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Abstract

Serum copper levels were determined in patients with psoriasis, a wide variety of other dermatoses, and normal controls by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In Series I, comprising 73 psoriatics and 66 normal controls of both sexes, serum copper levels were elevated in the psoriatics of both sexes but the elevation was not significant statistically. In Series II, using a more sensitive technic, serum copper levels were significantly higher in 60 psoriatic men as compared to 73 healthy male controls. Serum copper levels are higher in psoriatic and normal women as compared to their male counterparts, and tend to rise with age in both psoriatics and healthy controls. A screening survey of 79 patients with 38 various other dermatoses, including 10 patient with contact dermatitis, failed to reveal significant abnormalities.

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