01 August 2003
Treatment of Wilson’s disease
Irena Jabłońska-Kaszewska, Ewa Dąbrowska, Anna Drobińska-Jurowiecka, Bogdan FalkiewiczMed Sci Monit 2003; 9(3): 5-8 :: ID: 428587
Abstract
On the basis of literature review and own experiences we presented the method of treatment of Wilson`s disease. Causative treatment has been impossible so far, although gene therapy could be real in the future. Nowadays the principle of treatment is the elimination of the excess of easily mobilized copper by chelating agents or blocking the intestinal absorption of copper. Chelation therapy, aimed at mobilizing copper from the affected organs and promoting its excretion in the urine or stool is the most important. The major chelating agent is d-penicillamine, which is quite effective but not without some side effects.Alternative chelating agents such as trientine and tetrathiomolybdate have also been successfully employed. Zinc salts are also of therapeutic value. They promote copper excretion by inducing the synthesis of metallothionein in the intestine, thereby blocking copper absorption from the gut. Zinc salts have almost no side effects. They cannot be used as an initial treatment, but are very effective for maintenance therapy. The chelation therapy is ineffective in patients with acute liver failure with encephalopathy and hemolysis. In these cases, liver transplantation is the only hope for survival. Liver transplantations in patients with dominating psychoneurological symptoms are open to discussion.
Keywords: Wilson’s disease, treatment, review
Editorial
01 July 2026 : Editorial
Editorial: The WHO Identifies Ebola Disease Due to Bundibugyo Virus as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) as Vaccine Development AcceleratesDOI: 10.12659/MSM.954627
Med Sci Monit 2026; 32:e954627
In Press
Clinical Research
Comparative Effectiveness of a Nurse-Led Care Model vs Usual Care in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Longitudinal C...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.953211
Clinical Research
Impact of Treatment Modality on Pain, Sexual Function, and Psychological Well-Being in Patients With Bartho...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.952422
Clinical Research
Association Between Radiographic Knee Osteoarthritis, Pre-Fracture Mobility, and Hip Fracture Patterns in O...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.952678
Clinical Research
Association Between Total Cholesterol–to–High-Density Lipoprotein Ratio and Gestational Hypertension: A Cas...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.952395
Most Viewed Current Articles
17 Jan 2024 : Review article 14,176,084
Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron VariantDOI :10.12659/MSM.942799
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799
13 Nov 2021 : Clinical Research 3,757,530
Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination and Its Associated Factors Among Cancer Patients Attending the Oncology ...DOI :10.12659/MSM.932788
Med Sci Monit 2021; 27:e932788
14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research 2,466,116
Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase LevelsDOI :10.12659/MSM.937990
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990
16 May 2023 : Clinical Research 708,768
Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387
Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387






