The Wilson Disease is a rare hereditary disease whereby the body fails to effectively dispose the surplus copper. Rather, copper deposits accumulate within the liver, brain, eyes and other organs causing damage as time goes by. The timely treatment and diagnosis is critical to avoid severe complications and ensure good long-term health.
The symptoms depend on the age and the affected organs. Common signs include:
The reason Wilson disease occurs is due to the mutation on the gene, ATP7B and this mutation interferes with the process of clearing copper in the body. As a result:
Wilson Disease is a serious illness, and your health is worth the consult, and there is no better place than GastroDoxs in Cypress. Our experts offer superior testing, customized treatment plan and constant motivation to prevent overindulgence of copper levels and safeguard your health. Make an appointment and do it now to get a step into whole care and long-term care.
We've successfully treated more than 1K patients, helping individuals improve their digestive health and overall well-being through expert, personalized care.
Dr. Bharat Pothuri is a Board-Certified Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist. With extensive experience in digestive health, he specializes in advanced endoscopic procedures, chronic GI disorder management, and preventive care. Dr. Pothuri is dedicated to providing expert, patient-focused insights to help improve gut health and overall well-being.
The Disease that is inheritable is the Wilson disease because the body is unable to dispose this extra copper effectively leading to its build-up in the liver, the brain, the eyes, and other organs.
Kayser-Fleischer rings are copper rings that develop around the eye cornea as a result of copper deposits and are very likely to show up on a slit-lamp examination and appear greenish-brown or copper-colored.
The symptoms affecting the eye are blurred vision, photophobic light (sensitivity to light) and the presence of brownish Kayser-Fleischer rings at the periphery of the iris.
Diagnosis Water tests (blood, serum ceruloplasin, liver enzymes), 24-hour urine copper analysis, ATP7B gene mutations on a genetic basis and imaging or liver biopsy in case of necessity.
The gene ATP7B consists of instructions about a protein that releases copper out of the liver cells; its mutations disrupt copper excretion and cause its toxicity build-up.
Although Wilson cannot be toxic he can be treated very successfully through medications (chelation therapy or zinc), dietary modifications, and frequent monitoring to ensure copper levels are kept within check and are not damaged.
Yes. Chelating agents or zinc when dosed in pediatrics are well regulated by the experts to improve the safety and efficacy of the dosage administered to children.
GastroDoxs Jersey Village has a group of professionals (hepatologists, neurologists, and dietitians) who have majored in diagnosis and treatment of the Wilson disease.
Side effects also include gastrointestinal upsets, blood count, or skin rashes. Control and modification of treatment is through frequent follow-ups.
The follow-up visits will usually be scheduled after 3-6 months, so that to check the levels of copper, the effectiveness of the treatment, and look at the side effects.
