A rare, recessively inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a lack of ceruloplasmin in the blood. The lack of ceruloplasmin results in abnormal iron use in the body and leads to iron deposits in various body tissues such as the brain, pancreas and liver. The iron overload results a neurodegeneration (ataxia, dementia and extrapyramidal disorders) and diabetes. Patients with only a partial absence of ceruloplasmin are often asymptomatic. See also Aceruloplasminemia
