Wilson's Disease
What is It?
- Too Much Copper
- Copper is essential but too much is bad
- Liver normally processes Copper, but in Wilson's Disease this does not happen
- Can be deadly
Who Can Get It?
- Anyone
- Men or Woman
- Chances 1 in 30,000
- Detected between ages 5 and 35
Symptoms
- Kayser-Fleischer rings
- Neurological
- Liver
- Jaundice
- Bruising Easily
Treatment
- Reduce copper in body
- Chelating agent
- Zinc acetate
- Liver transplant
- Avoid mushrooms, nuts, chocolate, dried fruit, liver, and shellfish (high in Copper)
Inheritence
- Occurs on 13th Chromosome
- Recessive
- Both parents must carry the disease
- ATP7B Gene
- Carriers could have mild symptoms
- About one in a hundred people carry the gene
Interesting Facts
- Discovered by Samuel Alexander Kinnier Wilson in 1912
- Also found in Bedlington Terriers
- Over 300 different forms of the gene have been discovered
Bibliography
"Wilson Disease Association (WDA) International." Wilson Disease Association (WDA) International. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.
"National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)." Wilson Disease. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.
"Wilson Disease." - Genetics Home Reference. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.
Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Definition." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 23 Sept. 2011. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.
"Total Registered Members = 84801." MBBSdost.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.
"Copper." Pictures, Stories, and Facts about the Element in the Periodic Table. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.
"File:Autorecessive.svg." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.
"Wilson's Disease." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Mar. 2013. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.
"Samuel Alexander Kinnier Wilson." Facts about. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2013.