Copper metabolism in American retinitis pigmentosa patients

Serum copper, serum caeruloplasmin, and urinary copper excretion were measured in 38 American patients (and 15 family members) with recessive, dominant, and X-linked forms of retinitis pigmentosa. No abnormalities were found, in contrast to the findings of a recent study on Indian patients. Our data argue against a role for copper metabolism in ordinary retinitis pigmentosa.