Causes And Complications Of Wilson's Disease

Wilson's disease, also known as hepatolenticular degeneration and progressive lenticular degeneration, is a genetic condition inherited as a result of an autosomal recessive trait. This progressive condition causes the body to accumulate too much copper in the liver, eyes, brain, and other organs, and treatment is needed to prevent long-term disability and early death. Genetic testing can be performed to diagnose Wilson's disease, and the clinician will also check for signs of the liver and eye damage associated with the disorder. Most patients with Wilson's disease are diagnosed in their teens or early twenties. Treatment generally includes a combination of chelating agents, zinc salts, and tetrathiomolybdate in an attempt to reduce the patient's copper levels to a nontoxic range.