Wilsons Disease Flashcards
Wilsons disease
Wilson disease is the excessive accumulation of copper in the body and tissues. It is caused by a mutation in the “Wilson disease protein” on chromosome 13.
What is the genetic inheritance of Wilsons?
Autosomal recessive
What systems are affected in Wilsons?
Most patients with Wilson disease present with one or more of:
Hepatic problems (40%)
Neurological problems (50%)
Psychiatric problems (10%)
Haemolytic anaemia
Renal tubular damage leading to renal tubular acidosis
Osteopenia (loss of bone mineral density)
Copper deposition in the liver leads to chronic hepatitis and eventually liver cirrhosis. Copper deposition in the central nervous system can lead to neurological and psychiatric problems.
Neurological symptoms can be subtle and range from concentration and coordination difficulties to dysarthria (speech difficulties) and dystonia (abnormal muscle tone). Copper deposition in the basal ganglia leads to Parkinsonism (tremor, bradykinesia and rigidity). Motor symptoms are often asymmetrical in Wilson disease.
Psychiatric symptoms can vary from mild depression to full psychosis and the underlying cause of Wilson disease is often missed and treatment delayed.
What peripheral stigmata is specific to Wilson’s?
Kayser-Fleischer rings in cornea (deposition of copper in Descemet’s corneal membrane) can be present in patients in Wilson disease. These are brownish circles surrounding the iris. They can usually be seen by the naked eye but proper assessment is made using slit lamp examination.
Diagnosis of Wilsons:
The initial investigation of choice is serum caeruloplasmin. A low serum caeruloplasmin is suggestive of Wilson disease. This is the protein that carries copper in the blood. It can be falsely normal or elevated in cancer or inflammatory conditions. It is also not specific to Wilson disease.
Liver biopsy for liver copper content is the definitive gold standard test for diagnosis. Diagnosis can also be established if the 24-hour urine copper assay is sufficiently elevated. Alternatively, there are scoring systems that take in to account various features and laboratory tests to establish a diagnosis of Wilson disease.
Other investigations:
Low serum copper
Kayser-Fleischer rings
MRI brain shows nonspecific changes
How is Wilsons managed?
Treatment is with copper chelation using:
Penicillamine
Trientene
