Wilson disease

more than meets the eye

  • Kelly, Claire
  • Pericleous, Marinos
Postgraduate Medical Journal 94(1112):p 335-347, June 2018. | DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2017-135381

Wilson disease is a rare but important disorder of copper metabolism, with a failure to excrete copper appropriately into bile. It is a multisystem condition with presentations across all branches of medicine. Diagnosis can be difficult and requires a high index of suspicion. It should be considered in unexplained liver disease particularly where neuropsychiatric features are also present. Treatments are available for all stages of disease. A particularly important presentation not to overlook is acute liver failure which carries a high mortality risk and may require urgent liver transplantation. Here, we provide an overview of this complex condition.

Copyright © 2018 The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine
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