National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Wilson Disease is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Wilson Disease
Also called: Copper storage disease, Hepatolenticular degeneration
Wilson disease is a rare inherited disorder that causes your body to retain copper. Normally, your liver releases copper it doesn't need into bile, a digestive fluid. With Wilson disease, this does not happen. Copper builds up in your liver and injures liver tissue. Over time, the damage causes your liver to release the copper directly into your bloodstream. The blood carries copper all over your body. Too much copper can damage your kidneys, liver, brain and eyes.
Usually the build-up of copper starts after birth. Symptoms usually start between ages 6 and 20, but can begin as late as age 40. The most characteristic sign is a rusty brown ring around the cornea of the eye.
If you have Wilson disease, you will have to take medicine and follow a low-copper diet for the rest of your life. With early detection and proper treatment, a person with Wilson disease can enjoy normal health.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
-
Start Here
-
Wilson Disease(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
-
Wilson Disease(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
-
Wilson Disease
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
,
Learn More
, and
Multimedia & Cool Tools
.
For group Basics
For group Learn More
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
- No links available
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
,
Reference Shelf
, and
For You
.
For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
For group For You
-
Overviews
- About Wilson Disease(Wilson's Disease Association)
- Wilson's Disease(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
-
Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Copper Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- How Is Wilson Disease Diagnosed?(Wilson's Disease Association)
- Kayser-Fleischer Rings(Wilson's Disease Association)
- Wilson Disease: Symptoms/Findings(We Move)
-
Treatment
- Wilson Disease: Treatment(We Move)
-
Nutrition
- Diet and Nutrition(Wilson's Disease Association)
- Return to top
-
Disease Management
- Lab Tracker and Copper Calculator(Wilson's Disease Association)
- Return to top
-
Specific Conditions
- Wilson Disease: Frequently Asked Questions(Wilson's Disease Association)
- Return to top
-
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Hepatolenticular Degeneration(National Institutes of Health)
- Return to top
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Hepatolenticular Degeneration
-
Genetics
-
Genetics Home Reference: Wilson disease(National Library of Medicine)
- How Is Wilson Disease Inherited?(Wilson's Disease Association)
- Return to top
-
Genetics Home Reference: Wilson disease
-
Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
-
Directories
- Centers of Excellence(Wilson's Disease Association)
- Wilson Disease Physician & Support Contacts(Wilson's Disease Association)
- Return to top
-
Organizations
-
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
-
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Also available in Spanish
- Wilson's Disease Association International(Wilson's Disease Association)
- Return to top
-
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
-
Newsletters/Print Publications
- Wilson Disease Association Newsletters(Wilson's Disease Association) - PDF
- Return to top
-
Patient Handouts
- Wilson's disease
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
-
You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
