Wilson's disease (WD) is a genetic disorder that can be an underlying cause of cirrhosis of the liver. In this condition, the body is unable to remove excessive copper, leading to a build up of it in various parts of the person's body.

Symptoms

The symptoms that are found in this condition can be different in one case as compared to another. Spleen and liver enlargement may be noticed. These are referred to, respectively, as splenomegaly and hepatomegaly. The person might become exhausted. Bruising can occur more easily than it otherwise would. Jaundice is another issue that can show up. In this situation, the skin can turn yellow, and other things such as the whites of the patient's eyes can also be affected by this discoloration.

Anemia is another thing that may affect a person who has Wilson's disease. Arthritis might be noticed earlier than it usually would, and the same can be said for osteoporosis. The person's speech might be slurred. Migraines are also something that can be associated with WD. Muscles may become stiff. Cirrhosis of the liver can result in a person who has this condition. This collection of potential symptoms is not exhaustive.

Causes

This condition is genetic in nature. A particular gene known as ATP7B is involved. If a person inherits only one copy, then he does not display symptoms of the condition, and is simply a carrier.

Diagnosis

A doctor may use particular items to make a determination about diagnosing a case of Wilson's disease. For instance, he may consider the symptoms and give a suspected diagnosis of it. Liver enzymes might be tested. In some situations, a liver biopsy is used, and it is considered the top choice for diagnosis (although a measure of risk is involved in the procedure, and that is something that might be considered when the determination is being made as far as the methods used to try to obtain a diagnosis are concerned).

Treatment

A patient with Wilson's disease goes through a lifetime of taking care regarding the level of copper in his body. To start, treatment considers removing extra amounts of copper that have built up in the individual. His dietary intake of copper may need to be lowered. If there has been damage to something such as the liver then particular treatment related to that may be necessary. There are various methods of treatment beyond these. Talk with a doctor for information on what to apply to your particular situation.

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