Wilson's Disease, also known as hepatolenticular degeneration, is a genetic disease involving the inability of the body to remove excess copper. Small amounts of copper are essential for normal living functions, but it high concentration is can be poisonous and, as a result, Wilson's disease is potentially fatal.
Under normal physiological conditions, the liver filters excess copper and releases it into the bile fluid to be excreted from the body. People with Wilson's disease are not able to filter the copper sufficiently in the liver and copper levels build up in organs such as the liver, brain and eyes.
Causes
Wilson's disease is caused by a mutation in the ATP7B gene, which is inherited from parents in an autosomal recessive pattern. This means that both parents must be carriers of the defected gene for a child to be affected, and males and females are equally susceptible to the disease.
Symptoms
Although Wilson's disease is a genetic disease that is present at birth, signs and symptoms often don’t appear for some time, until the level of copper builds up in essential organs of the body.
Signs and symptoms of the disease may include:
- Abdominal pain and bloating
- Anxiety and depression
- Edema or fluid build up in legs and feet
- Fatigue
- Jaundice
- Kayser-Fleischer rings
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle stiffness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tremor
- Weight loss
Complications
If Wilson's disease is not diagnosed and treated when symptoms emerge, serious complications may arise. This could include:
- Cirrhosis
- Nephritis and Kidney damage
- Persistent symptoms of the nervous system
- Cancer of the liver
- Liver failure
Diagnosis
If a physician suspects Wilson's disease based on the presenting signs and symptoms of a patient, a full medical and family history should be taken.
A physical examination can be undertaken immediately; specifically looking for the presence of Kayser-Fleischer rings in the eyes and listening to the abdomen with a stethoscope.
Blood and urine samples should also be taken for testing by a medical laboratory. These tests can help to detect abnormality of the liver and kidneys, as well as check the copper level in the blood and urine.
A liver biopsy can help to confirm the diagnosis by showing signs of cirrhosis and copper in the liver. This involves taking a tissue sample from the liver, which is examined by a pathologist in a laboratory.
Management
Management of Wilson's disease involves an integrated approach of medications and nutritional changes, in addition to a possible liver transplant for some patients.
Chelating agents are commonly prescribed to remove excess copper from organs to be excreted from the bloodstream via the kidneys. Trientine and d-penicillamine are drugs in this class that help to reduce copper level in organs. They are usually a short-term treatment option to remove copper, which is followed by treatment with less invasive medications such as zinc.
Zinc is often recommended for patients that are not symptomatic to inhibit the absorption of copper from dietary sources. It is associated with less severe side effects and, as a result, can be offer a maintenance solution for Wilson's disease and is also safe for pregnant women.
Nutrition advice should be provided to encourage people with Wilson's disease to restrict their intake of copper by avoiding foods such as:
- Shellfish
- Liver
- Mushrooms
- Nuts
- Chocolate
Additionally, some tap water contains significant amounts of copper and if this is suspected, appropriate water testing is recommended.
When the management of Wilson's disease is not effective and severe cirrhosis is likely to lead to liver failure, it may be necessary to have a liver transplant. This procedure has a relatively high success rate with 85% of transplanted liver function a year later.
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