Wilson's Disease - Symptoms and Signs

Symptoms and Signs

Wilson's is a disease which is often confused with other diseases, either to do with the liver or in later stages with neurological changes.

Symptoms and signs depend on the stage when the patient first presents. In the late stage the patient will present with features similar to liver failure due to cirrhosis of liver. The early symptoms are symptoms related to hepatitis or inflammation of the liver which can be acute, chronic, active or fulminant.

• In young adults the first symptoms can be of the brain involvement. Defects of movements including a combination of tremors, dystonia, dysarthria, dysphagia, chorea, drooling, and in coordination may confuse the doctor with it being a brain related disorder. Developing clumsiness and fine motor skills can also bring the patient to a doctor.

• In a small percentage of patients the first symptoms are psychiatric abnormalities.
• In women it can present as amenorrhea or repeated spontaneous abortions or hematuria.
• Only in 5 to 10% of patients the typical rust or gold or greenish gold Kayser-Fleischer rings or crescents (due to copper deposits in the cornea) may be the first manifestation.
• Liver failure, cirrhosis, and other progressive liver diseases.
• Loss of muscle tone leading to contractions.
• Neurological changes.
• Depression, with suicidal thoughts.

Reference:

1. Ala A, Walker AP, Ashkan K, Dooley JS, Schilsky ML (2007). "Wilson's disease". Lancet 369 (9559): 397�408. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60196-2. PMID 17276780.