Ceruloplasmin/Transferrin Ratio Changes in Alzheimer's Disease

Rosanna Squitti, Carlo Salustri, Mariacristina Siotto, Mariacarla Ventriglia, Fabrizio Vernieri, Domenico Lupoi, Emanuele Cassetta, Paolo M. Rossini
2011 International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease  
The link between iron and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been mainly investigated with a focus on the local accumulation of this metal in specific areas of the brain that are critical for AD. In the present study, we have instead looked at systemic variations of markers of iron metabolism. We measured serum levels of iron, ceruloplasmin, and transferrin and calculated the transferrin saturation and the ceruloplasmin to transferrin ratio (Cp/Tf). Cp/Tf and transferrin saturation increased in AD
more » ... ients. Cp/Tf ratios also correlated positively with peroxide levels and negatively with serum iron concentrations. Elevated values of ceruloplasmin, peroxides, and Cp/Tf inversely correlated with MMSE scores. Isolated medial temporal lobe atrophy positively correlated with Cp/Tf and negatively with serum iron. All these findings indicate that the local iron accumulation found in brain areas critical for AD should be viewed in the frame of iron systemic alterations.
doi:10.4061/2011/231595 pmid:21234401 pmcid:PMC3014694 fatcat:cz3msmwdlvemfeil5f4xrcqxcy