Wilsons Disease

Hepatolenticular degeneration: In a nutshell

About

Hepatolenticular degeneration, or Wilson’s disease, is a hereditary medical condition that causes the accumulation of copper in the vital organs of the body.
Wilson’s disease is a fairly rare medical condition, with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 30,000 live births. [1]
Is not self-diagnosable
Is treatable by a medical professional
Often requires lab-testing and/or imagery
Usually lasts for years and/or lifelong
Wilson’s disease is treatable if diagnosed early. Most people having the medical condition live without any further complications.

Symptoms

Wilson’s disease cannot be self-diagnosed. Doctors need to run a variety of medical tests and check for certain symptoms to diagnose the disease. It is present at birth, however symptoms only appear once copper accumulates in a vital organ. Some symptoms are:
Fatigue
Lack of appetite
Fluid accumulation in the legs or the abdomen
Kayser-Fleischer rings
Muscle stiffness

Treatment

Self-Treatment

Limit consumption of foods that contain a high concentration of copper in them. Examples of copper-rich foods are liver, mushrooms, shellfish, nuts, and chocolate.
Medication

There are certain medications for Wilson’s disease. However, they need to be consumed throughout your life and some have serious side effects. Please consult your doctor before taking any medication.
Specialist

In case your liver is severely damaged due to Wilson’s disease, you will need a liver transplant.

Hey. If you have any more queries on Wilson’s disease or any other medical condition for that matter, you can visit www.mfine.co and talk to a doctor in 60 seconds.