It is commonly seen in eastern Europeans, Sicilians, and southern Italians. Symptoms begin to present around age 4 and may include:
• abnormal posture of arms and legs
• confusion or delirium
• dementia
• difficulty moving arms/legs
• difficulty walking
• emotional or behavioral changes
• abdominal distention
• personality changes
• speech impairment
• tremors of arms or hands
• uncontrollable movements
• hemoptysis
• jaundice
Wilson’s Disease can be diagnosed through tests that measure the amount of copper in the blood, urine, and liver. If a timely diagnosis is made, treatment consists of modification in your diet and use of certain medication and vitamin/mineral supplements. Individuals may want to drink distilled water because most tap water flows through copper pipes. Also, because a low-copper diet is recommended, individuals should avoid the following foods:
• Chocolate
• dried fruit
• liver
• mushrooms
• nuts
• shellfish
In order to control Wilson’s disease, lifelong treatment is required. It may cause fatal effects, such as loss of liver function and damage to the nervous system. Or, in patients where the disorder is not fatal, symptoms may be disabling. The purpose of treatment is to decrease the amount of copper in the body causing toxic effects. Therefore, medications known as chelators, which bind copper and remove it through the kidneys and guts, are utilized to treat this disorder.
Kayser-Fleischer Rings – a rusty brown ring around the cornea of the eye (copper deposits) that can be seen upon an eye exam is one of the most characteristic signs of Wilson’s Disease. If a physician fails to promptly diagnose and correctly treat Wilson’s Disease, severe brain damage, liver failure or even death could occur.
Please contact one of our experienced attorneys at O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble to review you or your loved one’s medical records to determine if there were any shortcomings in the diagnosis and treatment of Wilson’s or any other diseases. You can simply Contact us online or call (908) 928-9200 or 1-800-586-5817 for a free no obligation consultation.
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