Question
A patient came with H/o dementia & noticed to have a golden yellow ring around cornea. Which of the following investigation will help you in diagnosis.
| A. |
Sr. ceruloplasmin level
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| B. |
Sr. calcium level
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| C. |
Alpha-fetoprotein level
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| D. |
Sr. iron level
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Show Answer
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Correct Answer � A
Explanation
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The combination of dementia and a golden yellow ring around the cornea suggests the possibility of Wilson’s disease, which is a rare genetic disorder that causes copper to accumulate in various organs, including the brain and liver.
The golden yellow ring around the cornea is known as a Kayser-Fleischer ring, which is caused by the deposition of copper in the Descemet’s membrane of the cornea. The presence of Kayser-Fleischer rings is a characteristic feature of Wilson’s disease.
Serum ceruloplasmin level is a blood test that measures the level of ceruloplasmin, which is a copper-binding protein. In Wilson’s disease, the level of ceruloplasmin is usually low due to impaired copper metabolism, and this finding can help in the diagnosis of the disease.
However, it is important to note that a low ceruloplasmin level can also be caused by other conditions, such as malnutrition or chronic liver disease, so additional testing may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis of Wilson’s disease.
Other diagnostic tests for Wilson’s disease include liver function tests, urine copper levels, and genetic testing.
