Copper Differences in Egyptian Children with Developmental Stuttering

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 minia university

2 Lecturer&Consultnat, Clinical Pathology department, Faculty of medicine, Minia University, Egypt

3 Lecturer&Consultant, Public health and preventive medicine department, Faculty of medicine, Minia University, Egypt

4 Assistant professor & Consultant: Phoniatric Unit, Faculty of medicine, Minia University, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Many previous studies claimed that people who stutter show a reduced concentration of copper in their blood. There is growing evidence about the effect of copper on basal ganglia and dystonia. Copper may also affect the dopamine and GABA systems.
Objective: This research aimed to assess free copper and ceruloplasmin levels in the serum of developmental stutterers and compare them with non- stuttering group.
Patients and Methods: The research's design was cross-sectional. It included 86 participants from the Phoniatric Unit at Minia University Hospital's Faculty of Medicine. The subjects were separated into two categories: stutterers and non-stutterers. The eighty-six participants underwent Phaonic assessment, and all were referred to a clinical laboratory for blood samples to assess ceruloplasmin and free copper. Results were statistically analyzed.
Results: The participants' mean age was 8.3±2.8 years. According to descriptive data, there is a negative association between ceruloplasmin levels and the severity of stuttering in the stuttering population. By comparing stuttering and non-stuttering groups as regards ceruloplasmin levels and estimated free copper, the mean levels of ceruloplasmin and estimated copper are significantly lower in the stuttering group.
Conclusion: This finding suggests a correlation between the degree of stuttering and the plasma levels of ceruloplasmin and copper. These results may give a new perspective on stuttering and its precipitating factors.

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