Principal serum enzyme used in clinical diagnosis of Wilson disease
**Core Concept:** Wilson's disease is a rare genetic disorder characterized by copper accumulation in the liver, brain, and other tissues due to mutations in the ATP7B gene. The principal serum enzyme used in clinical diagnosis of Wilson disease is ceruloplasmin.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right:** Ceruloplasmin is a copper-containing plasma protein that acts as a copper-transporting protein involved in copper homeostasis. In Wilson disease, ceruloplasmin levels are significantly decreased due to impaired copper transport. The decreased ceruloplasmin levels lead to elevated serum copper levels, which can be detected by measuring ceruloplasmin levels in blood samples.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect:**
A. Urea cycle enzymes (e.g., arginase, ornithine transcarbamylase, etc.) are involved in urea synthesis and are not relevant to Wilson disease diagnosis.
B. Hepatitis C-related enzymes (e.g., ALT, AST, etc.) are liver enzymes involved in hepatocellular function and are not specific to Wilson disease diagnosis.
C. Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) is a liver enzyme involved in bile acid synthesis and is not specific to Wilson disease diagnosis.
D. Transferrin is a protein involved in iron transport and is not relevant to Wilson disease diagnosis, which is primarily related to copper homeostasis.
**Clinical Pearl:** The diagnostic test in Wilson disease is a combination of ceruloplasmin levels and liver copper levels, as low ceruloplasmin levels and elevated liver copper levels are key diagnostic markers for Wilson disease. The diagnosis can be confirmed by liver biopsy showing Kayser-Fleischer rings or genetic testing for ATP7B mutations.
**Correct Answer:** D. Ceruloplasmin is the correct answer because it is the principal serum enzyme used in the diagnosis of Wilson disease due to its role in copper homeostasis and its significant decrease in Wilson disease patients.