Copper toxicity is associated with which disease?

Copper toxicity is associated with which disease?

• A. Kidney disease requiring hemodialysis
• B. Liver disease
• C. Aggressive zinc supplementation
• D. Lung disease

Answer: (B)

Copper metabolism hinges on the liver, which is responsible for excreting excess copper into bile. When the liver is diseased or deficient in its ability to excrete copper, copper can accumulate in the liver and other organs, leading to toxicity. The best-known example of this link is Wilson disease, a genetic disorder that causes copper buildup in the liver and brain due to impaired copper excretion. Because of this central role of the liver in handling copper, copper toxicity is associated with liver disease. Aggressive zinc supplementation tends to reduce copper absorption and cause copper deficiency instead, while kidney or lung diseases are not the typical contexts for copper toxicity.

Copper metabolism hinges on the liver, which is responsible for excreting excess copper into bile. When the liver is diseased or deficient in its ability to excrete copper, copper can accumulate in the liver and other organs, leading to toxicity. The best-known example of this link is Wilson disease, a genetic disorder that causes copper buildup in the liver and brain due to impaired copper excretion. Because of this central role of the liver in handling copper, copper toxicity is associated with liver disease. Aggressive zinc supplementation tends to reduce copper absorption and cause copper deficiency instead, while kidney or lung diseases are not the typical contexts for copper toxicity.