The clinical significance of serum copper and zinc determinations in malignant lymphoma

Serum copper, zinc and copper/zinc ratio were determined in 70 patients of malignant ymphoma. 63% and 70.4% of non-remission patients had elevated copper levels and copper/zinc atio, correlated with the clinical staging, and being significantly higher ia stageⅢ and Ⅳ educed zinc level was always seen in critically ill patients. In most complete responding atients, the level of serum copper usually dropped after 1 course of COPP chemotherapy. Thus, erial measurement of serum copper level may be of use in monitoring the disease status and ecacting early relapse of malignant lymphoma.