Wilson’s Disease – What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments!
Wilson’s Disease – What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments. Wilson ‘s Disease is a genetically determined disorder of the copper mineral metabolism . This condition courses with varying degrees of neurological, psychiatric, hematological or hepatic involvement.
It is worth mentioning that the degree of involvement, the organs affected and the age of onset of symptoms (which usually ranges from three to 60 years of age) are very variable, even in individuals from the same family.
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Wilson ‘s Disease , also known as hepatolenticular degeneration and progressive lenticular degeneration, is a rare genetic disease that causes copper poisoning in the body. This affects about 1 in 30,000 people worldwide.
In a healthy body, the liver filters excess copper and releases it through the urine. With Wilson’s disease, the liver cannot properly remove the extra copper. The extra copper then accumulates in organs like the brain, liver and eyes.
Signs and Symptoms of Wilson’s Disease: The signs and symptoms of Wilson’s Disease vary widely depending on the organ affected. They can be confused with other diseases or conditions. Wilson ‘s Disease can only be detected by a doctor and through diagnostic tests.
The following symptoms may indicate accumulation of copper in the liver :
- weakness
- feeling tired
- weight loss
- nausea
- vomit
- loss of appetite
- Itch
- Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin
- Edema, or swelling of the legs and abdomen
- Pain or swelling in the abdomen
- Spider angiomas or branch visible blood vessels on the skin
- muscle cramps
Many of these symptoms, such as jaundice and edema, are the same for other conditions, such as liver and kidney failure. Your doctor will perform multiple tests before confirming a diagnosis of Wilson’s Disease .
What Causes and Who is at Risk for Wilson’s Disease: A mutation in the ATP7B gene, which encodes copper transport, causes Wilson’s Disease . You must inherit the gene from both parents to have Wilson’s Disease . This could mean that one of your parents has the condition or carries the gene.
How to Diagnose: It can be difficult for doctors to diagnose initially. The symptoms are similar to other health problems like heavy metal poisoning, hepatitis C and cerebral palsy.
Sometimes your doctor will be able to rule out Wilson’s Disease once neurological symptoms occur and there is no visible KF ring. But this is not always the case for people with liver -specific symptoms or other symptoms. A doctor will ask about your symptoms and ask for your family’s medical history. They will also use a variety of tests to look for damage from copper accumulations.
How to Treat: Successful treatment depends on time more than medication. Treatment usually takes place in three stages and should last a lifetime. If a person stops taking the drugs, copper can build up again.
How to Prevent: Wilson ‘s Disease is an inherited gene that is passed from parents to their children. If the parents have a child with Wilson’s disease, they could potentially have other children with the condition as well.
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Although you cannot prevent Wilson’s Disease , you can delay or delay the onset of the condition. If you find out you have Wilson’s Disease early on, you can prevent symptoms from showing up by taking medications like zinc. A genetic specialist can help parents determine their potential risk of passing Wilson’s disease on to their children.