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Wilson's disease history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Elsaiey, MBBCH [2]

Overview

Overview

Patients with Wilson’s disease may remain asymptomatic until the copper deposits in the liver and brain mainly. Common hepatic symptoms include abdominal distension, abdominal pain, fatigue, bleeding tendency, and esophageal varices. Common neuropsychiatric symptoms include tremors, ataxia, dysarthria, and impulsiveness. Less common symptoms of wilson’s disease include urolithiasis and hematuria.

History

History

  • Family history of Wilson’s disease in any other family member is important in the diagnosis as Wilson’s disease is usually inhereted.
Common symptoms

Common symptoms

Less common symptoms

Less common symptoms

References

References

  1. Ala A, Walker AP, Ashkan K, Dooley JS, Schilsky ML (2007). “Wilson’s disease”. Lancet. 369 (9559): 397–408. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60196-2. PMID 17276780.
  2. Merle U, Schaefer M, Ferenci P, Stremmel W (2007). “Clinical presentation, diagnosis and long-term outcome of Wilson’s disease: a cohort study”. Gut. 56 (1): 115–20. doi:10.1136/gut.2005.087262. PMID 16709660.
  3. European Association for Study of Liver (2012). “EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines: Wilson’s disease”. J Hepatol. 56 (3): 671–85. doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2011.11.007. PMID 22340672.

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