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- About Us
Fact SheetOverseas Offices & RepresentativesAccreditations and AwardsPatient StoriesUnusual Menstrual Symptoms Reveal Ovarian Cyst: Successful Laparoscopic CystectomyMyanmar Actress Patricia’s Intraocular Lens Surgery Experience at Vejthani HospitalLigament ReconstructionA comprehensive kid’s checkup at Vejthani Hospital’s Super Kid’s Center
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Health ArticlesHealth VideosNews and UpdatesExperience Faster Recovery and Less Pain with Minimally Invasive Heart Valve Repair SurgeryCaution: The Resurgence of Whooping Cough and the Vital Role of VaccinesOff-Pump CABG: Improved Approach to Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for Better OutcomesDiscover the Root of Allergies with a Simple Blood Test
Wilson’s disease
Overview
Wilson’s disease is a rare genetic disorder that leads to an accumulation of copper in various organs, particularly the liver, brain, and eyes. While the condition is typically diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 5 and 35, it can also affect younger and older people.
Copper is essential for the health of nerves, bones, collagen, and the skin pigment melanin. Normally, copper is absorbed from food, and excess copper is eliminated by the liver through a substance called bile. However, in Wilson’s disease, the liver fails to remove copper properly, leading to its buildup. If left untreated, this buildup can be life-threatening. Early diagnosis and treatment of Wilson’s disease can manage the condition effectively, allowing many people to lead normal lives.
Symptoms
Wilson’s disease is present from birth, but symptoms typically emerge only after copper accumulates in the brain, liver, eyes, or other organs. The symptoms can differ depending on which parts of the body are affected by the disease. These symptoms may include:
- Jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes.
- Kayser-Fleischer rings, which are circles around the eyes’ irises that have a golden-brown or coppery hue.
- Uncontrolled movements or muscle stiffness.
- A build-up of fluid in the stomach area or legs.
- Exhaustion.
- Loss of appetite.
- Personality changes, depression, and mood swings.
- Finding it difficult to get to sleep and stay asleep.
- Issues relating to speech, swallowing, or motor coordination.
If you have symptoms that concern you, schedule a visit with your doctor. This is especially important if you have a family member with Wilson’s disease.
Causes
Wilson’s disease results from a mutated gene that is inherited from each parent. You will be a carrier if you have only one mutated gene. This implies that your offspring may inherit the impacted gene.
Risk factors
Wilson’s illness may be more common in you if it affects your parents or siblings. To determine whether you have Wilson’s disease, ask your doctor if genetic testing is necessary. Early diagnosis of the illness significantly improves the prognosis for recovery.
