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Wilson's Disease Symptoms

Wilson's disease is a buildup of copper in the body's tissues, damaging vital organs such as the liver, brain and kidneys. The disease is inherited and may not present noticeable symptoms for years. People with Wilson's disease can lead normal lives with early diagnosis and treatment, but left untreated, Wilson's disease can be fatal.

  1. Symptoms of Copper Buildup in the Liver

    • Symptoms are rare before the age of 6 but will become noticeable before age 30. Copper builds up in many organs in the body and will start to damage tissue. Liver damage will cause symptoms of jaundice--yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. Sufferers may vomit blood and become anemic. Cirrhosis of the liver can occur, and scarring of liver tissue can lead to liver failure, with symptoms of swelling in the legs and stomach and an enlarged spleen.

    Symptoms of Copper Buildup in the Nervous System

    • A buildup of copper can negatively affect your nervous system. You may experience difficulty walking and speaking, tremors, stiffness when moving arms and legs, and uncontrollable jerk-like movements. An accumulation of copper will affect your brain and cause behavioral problems and personality changes. Phobias, confusion and emotional distress can also occur.

    Other Symptoms

    • Many people with Wilson's disease develop a brown pigmentation around their corneas called the Kayser-Fleischer ring. Wilson's disease can also cause kidney stones, osteoporosis, arthritis and slower blood clotting.

    Diagnosis

    • Diagnosis of Wilson's disease is not easy, because the symptoms do not normally appear all at once, but over a period of time. Also, symptoms mimic other diseases such as hepatitis. An eye exam using a slit lamp will show the Kayser-Fleischer rings around the corneas. Blood and urine samples will show high amounts of copper. A liver biopsy will show excess copper in the tissue.

    Treatment

    • Treatment for Wilson's disease is to reduce the amount of copper in your body's tissues. A chelation therapy using Depen or Cuprimine medications works by removing excess minerals from your body. The medication binds to copper and is eliminated from your body through your urine. These medications are made with penicillamine and should not be used by people allergic to penicillin or those with kidney disease. Syprine is another chelating drug that eliminates copper from your body and has fewer side effects than penicillamine drugs. Zinc prevents copper from being absorbed into the small intestine and stomach. Zinc is a slower acting treatment than the chelating medications, so it is typically used for people with no liver damage, pregnant women and those who have not shown symptoms of Wilson's disease. You will need to stay on the medication your doctor prescribes for life.

      Avoid eating foods high in copper such as shellfish, liver, nuts, chocolate, dried peas, beans and mushrooms. You may need to avoid minerals or vitamins containing copper as well.

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