Copper toxicity

Copper toxicity​, also known as copper poisoning or copperiedus, is the pathological result of excess elemental copper in the body. It may be acute, resulting in acute copper toxicosis, or a more chronic form, typified by Wilson disease.

Clinical presentation

Acute copper toxicosis

Acute toxicity results in a systemic illness with potentially severe sequelae:

• gastrointestinal hemorrhage
• acute kidney injury
• arrhythmias, hypotension
• hemolytic anemia
• acute hepatitis, hepatic failure
• CNS
  • dizziness, headache, fits, stupor, coma
• death

Chronic copper toxicosis

Chronic toxicity results primarily in hepato- and neurotoxicity as seen in Wilson disease.

Pathology

Etiology

Acute copper toxicosis

The acute form of copper poisoning is rare and usually seen in the suicidal patients who deliberately ingest large quantities of copper-containing chemicals (e.g. copper sulfate) or when people accidentally consume copper-contaminated food and drink.

Chronic copper toxicosis

The results of chronic copper excess may be seen in:

• Wilson disease
• idiopathic copper toxicosis (ICT)
• Indian childhood cirrhosis (ICC)
• chronic accidental ingestion of copper-contaminated food and drink: rare