1
|
Chen RK, Zhang C, Lin JW, Shi WX, Li YR, Cai NQ. Altered cortical functional networks in Wilson's disease: A resting-state electroencephalogram study. Neurobiol Dis 2024:106692. [PMID: 39370050 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2024] [Revised: 09/19/2024] [Accepted: 10/01/2024] [Indexed: 10/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The neuropsychiatric symptoms are common in Wilson's disease (WD) patients. However, it remains unclear about the associated functional brain networks. In this study, source localization-based functional connectivity analysis of close-eye resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) were implemented to assess the characteristics of functional networks in 17 WD patients with neurological involvements and 17 healthy controls (HCs). The weighted phase-lag index (wPLI) was subsequently calculated in source space across five different frequency bands and the resulting connectivity matrix was transformed into a weighted graph whose structure was measured by five graphical analysis indicators, which were finally correlated with clinical scores. Compared to HCs, WD patients revealed disconnected sub-networks in delta, theta and alpha bands. Moreover, WD patients exhibited significantly reduced global clustering coefficients and small-worldness in all five frequency bands. In WD group, the severity of neurological symptoms and structural brain abnormalities were significantly correlated with disrupted functional networks. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that functional network deficits in WD can reflect the severity of their neurological symptoms and structural brain abnormalities. Resting-state EEG may be used as a marker of brain injury in WD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ru-Kai Chen
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China; Department of Neurology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350212, China
| | - Chan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jian-Wei Lin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Xianyou County General Hospital, Putian 351200, China
| | - Wu-Xiang Shi
- Department of Fujian Provincial Key Lab of Medical Instrument and Pharmaceutical Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian, China; College of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Yu-Rong Li
- Department of Fujian Provincial Key Lab of Medical Instrument and Pharmaceutical Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian, China; College of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Nai-Qing Cai
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China; Department of Neurology, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350212, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhong HJ, Liu AQ, Huang DN, Zhou ZH, Xu SP, Wu L, Yang XP, Chen Y, Hong MF, Zhan YQ. Exploring the impact of gut microbiota on liver health in mice and patients with Wilson disease. Liver Int 2024; 44:2700-2713. [PMID: 39037193 DOI: 10.1111/liv.16046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Distinctive gut microbial profiles have been observed between patients with Wilson disease (WD) and healthy individuals. Despite this, the exact relationship and influence of gut microbiota on the advancement of WD-related liver damage remain ambiguous. This research seeks to clarify the gut microbiota characteristics in both human patients and mouse models of WD, as well as their impact on liver injury. METHODS Gut microbial features in healthy individuals, patients with WD, healthy mice and mice with early- and late-stage WD were analysed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Additionally, WD-afflicted mice underwent treatment with either an antibiotic cocktail (with normal saline as a control) or healthy microbiota (using disease microbiota as a control). The study assessed gut microbiota composition, hepatic transcriptome profiles, liver copper concentrations and hepatic pathological injuries. RESULTS Patients with hepatic WD and mice with WD-related liver injury displayed altered gut microbiota composition, notably with a significant reduction in Lactobacillus abundance. Additionally, the abundances of several gut genera, including Lactobacillus, Veillonella and Eubacterium coprostanoligenes, showed significant correlations with the severity of liver injury in patients with WD. In WD mice, antibiotic treatment or transplantation of healthy microbiota altered the gut microbial structure, increased Lactobacillus abundance and modified the hepatic transcriptional profile. These interventions resulted in reduced hepatic copper concentration and alleviation of WD-related liver injury. CONCLUSIONS Individuals and mice with pronounced WD-related liver injury exhibited shifts in gut microbial composition. Regulating gut microbiota through healthy microbiota transplantation emerges as a promising therapeutic approach for treating WD-related liver injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Jie Zhong
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ai-Qun Liu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dong-Ni Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Hua Zhou
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shun-Peng Xu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin-Ping Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yangchao Chen
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ming-Fan Hong
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong-Qiang Zhan
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hu S, Li C, Wang Y, Wei T, Wang X, Dong T, Yang Y, Ding Y, Qiu B, Yang W. Structural lesions and transcriptomic specializations shape gradient perturbations in Wilson disease. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae329. [PMID: 39372139 PMCID: PMC11450269 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 09/23/2024] [Indexed: 10/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Functional dysregulations in multiple regions are caused by excessive copper deposition in the brain in Wilson disease (WD) patients. The genetic mechanism of WD is thought to involve the abnormal expression of ATP7B in the liver, whereas the biological and molecular processes involved in functional dysregulation within the brain remain unexplored. The objective of this study was to unravel the underpinnings of functional gradient perturbations underlying structural lesions and transcriptomic specializations in WD. In this study, we included 105 WD patients and 93 healthy controls who underwent structural and functional MRI assessments. We used the diffusion mapping embedding model to derive the functional connectome gradient and further employed gray matter volume to uncover structure-function decoupling for WD. Then, we used Neurosynth, clinical data, and whole-brain gene expression data to examine the meta-analytic cognitive function, clinical phenotypes, and transcriptomic specializations related to WD gradient alterations. Compared with controls, WD patients exhibited global topographic changes in the principal pramary-to-transmodal gradient. Meta-analytic terms and clinical characteristics were correlated with these gradient alterations in motor-related processing, higher-order cognition, neurological symptoms, and age. Spatial correlations revealed structure-function decoupling in multiple networks, especially in subcortical and visual networks. Within the cortex, the spatial association between gradient alterations and gene expression profiles has revealed transcriptomic specilizations in WD that display properties indicative of ion homeostasis, neural development, and motor control. Furthermore, for the first time, we characterized the role of the ATP7B gene in impacting subcortical function. The transcriptomic specializations of WD were also associated with other neurological and psychiatric disorders. Finally, we revealed that structural lesions and gradient perturbations may share similar transcriptomic specializations in WD. In conclusion, these findings bridged functional gradient perturbations to structural lesions and gene expression profiles in WD patients, possibly promoting our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the emergence of complex neurological and psychiatric phenotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Hu
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, Medical Imaging Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
- Institute of Advanced Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230094, China
- School of Medical Information Engineering, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230012, China
| | - Chuanfu Li
- Medical Imaging Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
| | - Yanming Wang
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, Medical Imaging Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Taohua Wei
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Xinan Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Wang
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, Medical Imaging Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Ting Dong
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Xinan Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
| | - Yulong Yang
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Xinan Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
| | - Yufeng Ding
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Xinan Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
| | - Bensheng Qiu
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, Medical Imaging Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
- Institute of Advanced Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230094, China
| | - Wenming Yang
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
- Key Laboratory of Xinan Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ferrarese A, Cazzagon N, Burra P. Liver transplantation for Wilson disease: Current knowledge and future perspectives. Liver Transpl 2024:01445473-990000000-00405. [PMID: 38899966 DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Liver transplantation currently represents a therapeutic option for patients with Wilson disease presenting with end-stage liver disease or acute liver failure. Indeed, it has been associated with excellent postoperative survival curves in view of young age at transplant and absence of recurrence. Attention has shifted over the past decades to a wise expansion of indications for liver transplantation. Evidence has emerged supporting the transplantation of carefully selected patients with primarily neuropsychiatric symptoms and compensated cirrhosis. The rationale behind this approach is the potential for surgery to improve copper homeostasis and consequently ameliorate neuropsychiatric symptoms. However, several questions remain unanswered, such as how to establish thresholds for assessing pretransplant neuropsychiatric impairment, how to standardize preoperative neurological assessments, and how to define postoperative outcomes for patients meeting these specific criteria. Furthermore, a disease-specific approach will be proposed both for the liver transplant evaluation of candidates with Wilson disease and for patient care during the transplant waiting period, highlighting the peculiarities of this systemic disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Ferrarese
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Padua University Hospital, Padua, Italy
| | - Nora Cazzagon
- Gastroenterology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Padua University Hospital, Padua, Italy
| | - Patrizia Burra
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Padua University Hospital, Padua, Italy
- Gastroenterology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Padua University Hospital, Padua, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Karantzoulis S, Heuer K, Sparling N, Meltzer B, Teynor M. Exploring the Content Validity of the Unified Wilson Disease Rating Scale: Insights from Qualitative Research. Adv Ther 2024; 41:2070-2082. [PMID: 38573483 PMCID: PMC11052881 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-024-02833-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Wilson disease (WD) is a rare metabolic disorder of impaired copper transport manifesting in hepatic, neurological, and psychiatric symptoms. To evaluate the clinical symptoms of WD in clinical trials, a group of clinicians created the Unified Wilson Disease Rating Scale (UWDRS). Content validity of this scale has not been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the content validity of the UWDRS Part II from the patient perspective. METHODS This study utilized multiple qualitative research methods including concept elicitation interviews, concept/instrument mapping, and cognitive debriefing interviews. RESULTS Concept elicitation interviews with a sample of patients with WD and one or more neurological signs/symptoms identified several signs, symptoms, and impacts related to neurological dysfunction, strengthening our understanding of the importance of the neurological aspects of the WD patient experience. Mapping neurological concepts to Part II and III items of the UWDRS showed complete coverage of all salient neurological concepts and near complete coverage of all neurological concepts reported by patients in concept elicitation interviews. Item debriefing of Part II of the UWDRS revealed that patients generally found the items clear and personally relevant to their experience with WD. CONCLUSION Overall, the findings from this study provide evidence for the content validity of the UWDRS Part II and supportive evidence for the content validity of Part III. The UWDRS should be used in conjunction with additional clinical outcomes assessments, specifically those evaluating the hepatic and psychiatric signs/symptoms of WD, to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the WD patient experience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Karli Heuer
- IQVIA, 600 Lexington Ave, 6th Floor, New York, NY, 10022, USA
| | - Nicole Sparling
- IQVIA, 600 Lexington Ave, 6th Floor, New York, NY, 10022, USA
| | - Brian Meltzer
- Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, 121 Seaport Blvd, Boston, MA, 02210, USA
| | - Megan Teynor
- Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, 121 Seaport Blvd, Boston, MA, 02210, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhang B, Yang G, Xu C, Zhang R, He X, Hu W. The volume and structural covariance network of thalamic nuclei in patients with Wilson's disease: an investigation of the association with neurological impairment. Neurol Sci 2024; 45:2063-2073. [PMID: 38049551 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-07245-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine the volumes of thalamic nuclei and the intrinsic thalamic network in patients with Wilson's disease (WDs), and to explore the correlation between these volumes and the severity of neurological symptoms. METHODS A total of 61 WDs and 33 healthy controls (HCs) were included in the study. The volumes of 25 bilateral thalamic nuclei were measured using structural imaging analysis with Freesurfer, and the intrinsic thalamic network was evaluated through structural covariance network (SCN) analysis. RESULTS The results indicated that multiple thalamic nuclei were smaller in WDs compared to HCs, including mediodorsal medial magnocellular (MDm), anterior ventral (AV), central median (CeM), centromedian (CM), lateral geniculate (LGN), limitans-suprageniculate (L-Sg), reuniens-medial ventral (MV), paracentral (Pc), parafascicular (Pf), paratenial (Pt), pulvinar anterior (PuA), pulvinar inferior (PuI), pulvinar medial (PuM), ventral anterior (VA), ventral anterior magnocellular (VAmc), ventral lateral anterior (VLa), ventral lateral posterior (VLp), ventromedial (VM), ventral posterolateral (VPL), and right middle dorsal intralaminar (MDI). The study also found a negative correlation between the UWDRS scores and the volume of the right MDm. The intrinsic thalamic network analysis showed abnormal topological properties in WDs, including increased mean local efficiency, modularity, normalized clustering coefficient, small-world index, and characteristic path length, and a corresponding decrease in mean node betweenness centrality. WDs with cerebral involvement had a lower modularity compared to HCs. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that the majority of thalamic nuclei in WDs exhibit significant volume reduction, and the atrophy of the right MDm is closely related to the severity of neurological symptoms. The intrinsic thalamic network in WDs demonstrated abnormal topological properties, indicating a close relationship with neurological impairment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bing Zhang
- Kunshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guang Yang
- Kunshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chunyang Xu
- Kunshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Kunshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaogang He
- Kunshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenbin Hu
- Kunshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- Affiliated Hospital of Institute of Neurology, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang Z, You Z. Assessment of sleep disturbance in patients with Wilson's disease. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:205. [PMID: 38481200 PMCID: PMC10938750 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05493-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wilson's disease (WD) is frequently manifested with anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance; this investigation aimed to elucidate these manifestations and identify the influencing factors of sleep disturbance. METHODS Sleep disturbance, anxiety and depression were compared in 42 WD and 40 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals. 27 individuals indicated a neurological form of the disease (NV), and 15 had a non-neurological variant (NNV). RESULTS This investigation revealed that the Parkinson's disease sleep scale (PDSS) score of WD individuals was lower, whereas their Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores were higher than the healthy individuals (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the WD subjects had markedly increased prevalence of poor sleep quality, anxiety, and depression than healthy individuals (p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that NV subjects had significantly higher scores on the UWDRS, PSQI, HAMA, and HAMD scales than those in the NV group, as well as higher rates of EDS, anxiety, and depression (p < 0.05). In patients with sleep disturbance, we identified UWDRS, neurological variant, and depression as associated factors. The linear regression model demonstrated depression as the dominant risk factor. CONCLUSIONS Depression is highly correlated with and is a determinant of sleep disturbance in WD patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyang Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
- Department of Neurology, Taizhou Clinical Medical School of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Taizhou People's Hospital, 225300, Taizhou, China.
| | - ZhiFei You
- Department of Neurology, Taizhou Clinical Medical School of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Taizhou People's Hospital, 225300, Taizhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Jin P, Fu X, Wang Y, Ma X, Ai W, Xu Y, Li B, Ye Q, Wang G. Oculogyric Crisis in a Wilson's Disease Patient. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2024; 11:315-317. [PMID: 38468560 PMCID: PMC10928320 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.13949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ping Jin
- Department of NeurologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Institute of Neurology, Anhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Xiao‐Ming Fu
- Department of NeurologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Institute of Neurology, Anhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
- Institute of NeurologyAnhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of NeurologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Institute of Neurology, Anhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Xin‐Feng Ma
- Department of NeurologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Institute of Neurology, Anhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Wen‐Long Ai
- Department of NeurologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Institute of Neurology, Anhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Ya‐Yun Xu
- Department of NeurologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Institute of Neurology, Anhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Bo Li
- Department of NeurologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Institute of Neurology, Anhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Qun‐Rong Ye
- Department of NeurologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Institute of Neurology, Anhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| | - Gong‐Qiang Wang
- Department of NeurologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Institute of Neurology, Anhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
- Institute of NeurologyAnhui University of Chinese MedicineHefeiChina
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Deng W, Zhang J, Jia Z, Pan Z, Wang Z, Xu H, Zhong L, Yu Y, Zhao R, Li X. Myocardial involvement characteristics by cardiac MR imaging in neurological and non-neurological Wilson disease patients. Insights Imaging 2024; 15:24. [PMID: 38270718 PMCID: PMC10810766 DOI: 10.1186/s13244-023-01583-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To explore the characteristics of myocardial involvement in Wilson Disease (WD) patients by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). METHODS We prospectively included WD patients and age- and sex-matched healthy population. We applied CMR to analyze cardiac function, strain, T1 maps, T2 maps, extracellular volume fraction (ECV) maps, and LGE images. Subgroup analyzes were performed for patients with WD with predominantly neurologic manifestations (WD-neuro +) or only hepatic manifestations (WD-neuro -). RESULTS Forty-one WD patients (age 27.9 ± 8.0 years) and 40 healthy controls (age 25.4 ± 2.9 years) were included in this study. Compared to controls, the T1, T2, and ECV values were significantly increased in the WD group (T1 1085.1 ± 39.1 vs. 1046.5 ± 33.1 ms, T2 54.2 ± 3.3 ms vs. 51.5 ± 2.6 ms, ECV 31.8 ± 3.6% vs. 24.3 ± 3.7%) (all p < 0.001). LGE analysis revealed that LGE in WD patients was predominantly localized to the right ventricular insertion point and interventricular septum. Furthermore, the WD-neuro + group showed more severe myocardial damage compared to WD-neuro - group. The Unified Wilson Disease Rating Scale score was significantly correlated with ECV (Pearson's r = 0.64, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS CMR could detect early myocardial involvement in WD patients without overt cardiac function dysfunction. Furthermore, characteristics of myocardial involvement were different between WD-neuro + and WD-neuro - , and myocardial involvement might be more severe in WD-neuro + patients. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT Cardiac magnetic resonance enables early detection of myocardial involvement in Wilson disease patients, contributing to the understanding of distinct myocardial characteristics in different subgroups and potentially aiding in the assessment of disease severity. KEY POINTS • CMR detects WD myocardial involvement with increased T1, T2, ECV. • WD-neuro + patients show more severe myocardial damage and correlation with ECV. • Differences of myocardial characteristics exist between WD-neuro + and WD-neuro - patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Deng
- Department of Radiology, Research Center of Clinical Medical Imaging, Anhui Province Clinical Image Quality Control Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurology, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Zhuoran Jia
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Zixiang Pan
- Department of Radiology, Research Center of Clinical Medical Imaging, Anhui Province Clinical Image Quality Control Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Department of Radiology, Research Center of Clinical Medical Imaging, Anhui Province Clinical Image Quality Control Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Huimin Xu
- Department of Radiology, Research Center of Clinical Medical Imaging, Anhui Province Clinical Image Quality Control Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Liang Zhong
- Duke NUS Medical School, National Heart Centre Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yongqiang Yu
- Department of Radiology, Research Center of Clinical Medical Imaging, Anhui Province Clinical Image Quality Control Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, China.
| | - Ren Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, China.
| | - Xiaohu Li
- Department of Radiology, Research Center of Clinical Medical Imaging, Anhui Province Clinical Image Quality Control Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Dooley JS. The history of Wilson disease. Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken) 2024; 23:e0238. [PMID: 38974753 PMCID: PMC11227348 DOI: 10.1097/cld.0000000000000238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
|
11
|
Affiliation(s)
- Eve A Roberts
- From the Departments of Paediatrics, Medicine, and Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, and the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute - both in Toronto; and the History of Science and Technology Programme, University of King's College, Halifax, NS, Canada (E.A.R.); and the Departments of Medicine and Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (M.L.S.)
| | - Michael L Schilsky
- From the Departments of Paediatrics, Medicine, and Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, and the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute - both in Toronto; and the History of Science and Technology Programme, University of King's College, Halifax, NS, Canada (E.A.R.); and the Departments of Medicine and Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (M.L.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ryan A, Twomey PJ, Cook P. Wilson's disease: best practice. J Clin Pathol 2023:jcp-2022-208551. [PMID: 37045587 DOI: 10.1136/jcp-2022-208551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Wilson's disease is an autosomal recessive disorder arising from pathogenic variants in the Atp7b gene on chromosome 13. The defective translated ATPase copper (Cu) transport protein produced leads to Cu accumulation, initially affecting the liver but eventually affecting other cells. It is just over 20 years since the last Best Practice on this topic in this journal. This review is an update on this, covering new disease biomarkers, pathogenesis, assumptions around clinical features and developments in therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aidan Ryan
- Chemical Pathology, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland, Cork University Hospital Biochemistry Laboratory, Cork, Ireland
- Pathology, School of Medicine, University College Cork College of Medicine and Health, Cork, Ireland
| | - Patrick J Twomey
- Clinical Chemistry, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- University College Dublin School of Medicine and Medical Science, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Paul Cook
- Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Wang Y, Xuan H, Zhao T, Li X, Li S, Hu W. A study of linear measurement and clinical correlation of brain atrophy in Wilson's disease. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1142082. [PMID: 37056963 PMCID: PMC10086176 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1142082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The aim of this study was to explore the clinical relevance of linear measures of Wilson's disease (WD). Methods Relative values of brain atrophy in 30 patients with WD and 30 healthy volunteers were measured and compared using a manual measurement method. Linear measurement indicators of brain atrophy in patients with and without mental disorders were also compared. In addition, correlations of patients' age, disease duration, and Unified Wilson's Disease Rating Scale (UWDRS) scores with brain atrophy indicators were determined. Results The results showed that the e-value, Huckman number, Evans index, and lateral ventricular body index were higher in the WD group compared with the control group. The age of patients with WD was negatively correlated with the k-value and significantly positively correlated with the brainstem index. WD duration was prominently positively correlated with the d-value and negatively correlated with the j-value. In addition, neurological function scores were significantly positively correlated with the c-value, e-value, caudate nucleus index, Huckman number, Evans index, and lateral ventricular body index. By contrast, patients with psychiatric symptoms had a higher a-value and fourth ventricular index than those without psychiatric symptoms. Conclusion Therefore, it can be concluded that patients with WD and those with psychiatric symptoms have more severe brain atrophy compared to normal subjects. The patient's age, disease duration, and neurological function scores were positively correlated with the severity of brain atrophy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Wang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongxia Xuan
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurology, Hongda Hospital, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China
| | - Tun Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodong Li
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shujuan Li
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenli Hu
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Jopowicz A, Tarnacka B. Neurological Wilson's Disease Signs-Hepatic Encephalopathy or Copper Toxicosis? Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13050893. [PMID: 36900037 PMCID: PMC10001333 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13050893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare autosomal recessive (AR) disorder resulting from mutations in the ATP7B gene, which is responsible for the encryption of transmembrane copper transporting ATPase. The symptomatic presentation of the disease is estimated to be about 1 in 30,000. The impairment of ATP7B function results in a copper overload in hepatocytes, which further leads to liver pathology. This copper overload also occurs in other organs, most particularly in the brain. This could then cause the occurrence of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Symptoms differ substantially and most often occur between the ages of 5 and 35 years. Early symptoms are commonly hepatic, neurological, or psychiatric. While disease presentation is most often asymptomatic, it could also range as far as to include fulminant hepatic failure, ataxia, and cognitive disorders. Various treatments are available for Wilson's disease, including chelation therapy and zinc salts, which can reverse copper overload through different mechanisms. In select cases, liver transplantation is recommended. New medications, such as tetrathiomolybdate salts, are currently being investigated in clinical trials. With prompt diagnosis and treatment, prognosis is favorable; however, diagnosing patients before the onset of severe symptoms is a significant concern. Early screening for WD could help in diagnosing patients earlier and improving treatment outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Jopowicz
- Department of Rehabilitation, Eleonora Reicher National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Spartańska 1, 02-637 Warsaw, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Beata Tarnacka
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Warsaw Medical University, Spartańska 1, 02-637 Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
You Z, Xu H, Wu Z, You Z. Sleep disorders in Wilson's disease: a questionnaire study. Neurol Sci 2023; 44:209-214. [PMID: 36104472 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-022-06401-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the clinical characteristics and influencing factors related to sleep disorders in patients with Wilson's disease (WD), and investigate its potential mechanisms. METHODS A total of 150 patients with WD (76 hepatic, 42 neurological, 32 asymptomatic form) and 150 age- and sex-matched control subjects were investigated using 3 standardized sleep questionnaires. Differences among 3 subtypes were discussed. RESULTS The mean Parkinson's disease sleep scale (PDSS) score of WD was lower than the controls (Z = - 4.426, P = 0.000), and their mean Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score as well as Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) score of WD was higher than that of the controls (t = 2.005, P = 0.048; t = 3.342, P = 0.001). The incidence of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in WD group were significantly higher than the controls (X2 = 6.064, P = 0.014). Further analysis showed that total PDSS score of neurologic presentation group was lower than others (X2 = 6.131, P = 0.047), while the ESS score was higher (F = 3.817, P = 0.029). UWDRS showed a negative correlation with PDSS (r = - 0.440, P = 0.022) and has a higher negative correlation with PDSS in neurologic presentation group (r = - 0.732, P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS Patients with WD often suffer from sleep disturbances, mainly characterized by difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, nocturnal motor symptoms (numbness, cramps, tremor), and daytime dozing. And the incidence of EDS is significantly higher than that of the controls. Sleep quality is worse in patients with WD of neurologic presentation than the other two groups. Furthermore, the worse of the symptoms, patients with WD suffer more serious of the sleep disorders especially in neurologic presentation group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhifei You
- Department of Neurology, Taizhou People's Hospital, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hui Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Sixth People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhonghua Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Sixth People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhengchen You
- Department of Emergency, Taizhou People's Hospital, No. 366 Taihu Road, Taizhou, 225300, Jiangsu, China.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Schilsky ML, Roberts EA, Bronstein JM, Dhawan A, Hamilton JP, Rivard AM, Washington MK, Weiss KH, Zimbrean PC. A multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and management of Wilson disease: 2022 Practice Guidance on Wilson disease from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Hepatology 2022:01515467-990000000-00207. [PMID: 36151586 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Schilsky
- Medicine and Surgery , Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , Connecticut , USA
| | - Eve A Roberts
- Paediatrics, Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
| | - Jeff M Bronstein
- Neurology , University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles , California , USA
| | - Anil Dhawan
- Paediatric Liver, GI and Nutrition Centre and MowatLabs , King's College Hospital , London , UK
| | - James P Hamilton
- Medicine , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , Maryland , USA
| | - Anne Marie Rivard
- Food and Nutrition Services , Yale New Haven Hospital , New Haven , Connecticut , USA
| | - Mary Kay Washington
- Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology , Vanderbilt University Medical Center , Nashville , Tennessee , USA
| | | | - Paula C Zimbrean
- Psychiatry , Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , Connecticut , USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Avan A, Członkowska A, Gaskin S, Granzotto A, Sensi SL, Hoogenraad TU. The Role of Zinc in the Treatment of Wilson’s Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169316. [PMID: 36012580 PMCID: PMC9409413 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Wilson’s disease (WD) is a hereditary disorder of copper metabolism, producing abnormally high levels of non-ceruloplasmin-bound copper, the determinant of the pathogenic process causing brain and hepatic damage and dysfunction. Although the disease is invariably fatal without medication, it is treatable and many of its adverse effects are reversible. Diagnosis is difficult due to the large range and severity of symptoms. A high index of suspicion is required as patients may have only a few of the many possible biomarkers. The genetic prevalence of ATP7B variants indicates higher rates in the population than are currently diagnosed. Treatments have evolved from chelators that reduce stored copper to zinc, which reduces the toxic levels of circulating non-ceruloplasmin-bound copper. Zinc induces intestinal metallothionein, which blocks copper absorption and increases excretion in the stools, resulting in an improvement in symptoms. Two meta-analyses and several large retrospective studies indicate that zinc is equally effective as chelators for the treatment of WD, with the advantages of a very low level of toxicity and only the minor side effect of gastric disturbance. Zinc is recommended as a first-line treatment for neurological presentations and is gaining acceptance for hepatic presentations. It is universally recommended for lifelong maintenance therapy and for presymptomatic WD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abolfazl Avan
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 93518-88415, Iran
- Correspondence:
| | - Anna Członkowska
- 2nd Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Susan Gaskin
- Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C3, Canada
| | - Alberto Granzotto
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences (DNISC), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Stefano L. Sensi
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences (DNISC), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
- Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Tjaard U. Hoogenraad
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Shribman S, Burrows M, Convery R, Bocchetta M, Sudre CH, Acosta-Cabronero J, Thomas DL, Gillett GT, Tsochatzis EA, Bandmann O, Rohrer JD, Warner TT. Neuroimaging Correlates of Cognitive Deficits in Wilson's Disease. Mov Disord 2022; 37:1728-1738. [PMID: 35723521 PMCID: PMC9542291 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive impairment is common in neurological presentations of Wilson's disease (WD). Various domains can be affected, and subclinical deficits have been reported in patients with hepatic presentations. Associations with imaging abnormalities have not been systematically tested. OBJECTIVE The aim was to determine the neuroanatomical basis for cognitive deficits in WD. METHODS We performed a 16-item neuropsychological test battery and magnetic resonance brain imaging in 40 patients with WD. The scores for each test were compared between patients with neurological and hepatic presentations and with normative data. Associations with Unified Wilson's Disease Rating Scale neurological examination subscores were examined. Quantitative, whole-brain, multimodal imaging analyses were used to identify associations with neuroimaging abnormalities in chronically treated stable patients. RESULTS Abstract reasoning, executive function, processing speed, calculation, and visuospatial function scores were lower in patients with neurological presentations than in those with hepatic presentations and correlated with neurological examination subscores. Deficits in abstract reasoning and phonemic fluency were associated with lower putamen volumes even after controlling for neurological severity. About half of patients with hepatic presentations had poor performance in memory for faces, cognitive flexibility, or associative learning relative to normative data. These deficits were associated with widespread cortical atrophy and/or white matter diffusion abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS Subtle cognitive deficits in patients with seemingly hepatic presentations represent a distinct neurological phenotype associated with diffuse cortical and white matter pathology. This may precede the classical neurological phenotype characterized by movement disorders and executive dysfunction and be associated with basal ganglia damage. A binary phenotypic classification for WD may no longer be appropriate. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Shribman
- Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London
| | - Maggie Burrows
- Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London
| | - Rhian Convery
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Martina Bocchetta
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carole H Sudre
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - David L Thomas
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom.,Neuroradiological Academic Unit, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom.,Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Godfrey T Gillett
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Emmanuel A Tsochatzis
- UCL Institute of Liver and Digestive Health and Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver Bandmann
- Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas T Warner
- Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Shribman S, Marjot T, Sharif A, Vimalesvaran S, Ala A, Alexander G, Dhawan A, Dooley J, Gillett GT, Kelly D, McNeill A, Warner TT, Wheater V, Griffiths W, Bandmann O. Investigation and management of Wilson's disease: a practical guide from the British Association for the Study of the Liver. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 7:560-575. [PMID: 35429442 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(22)00004-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Wilson's disease is an autosomal-recessive disorder of copper metabolism with hepatic, neurological, psychiatric, ophthalmological, haematological, renal, and rheumatological manifestations. Making a diagnosis can be challenging given that no single test can confirm or exclude the disease, and diagnostic delays are common. Treatment protocols vary and adverse effects, including paradoxical neurological worsening, can occur. In this Review, we provide a practical guide to the diagnosis of Wilson's disease. We include recommendations on indications for testing, how to interpret results, and when additional investigations are required. We also cover treatment initiation, ideally under the guidance of a specialist centre for Wilson's disease, and the principles behind long-term management. This guidance was developed by a multidisciplinary group of Wilson's disease experts formed through the British Association for the Study of the Liver. The guidance has been endorsed by the British Society of Gastroenterology and approved by the Association of British Neurologists.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Shribman
- Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Thomas Marjot
- Oxford Liver Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Abubakar Sharif
- Liver Unit, Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK
| | - Sunitha Vimalesvaran
- Paediatric Liver, GI and Nutrition Centre and Mowat Labs, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK
| | - Aftab Ala
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford; Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - Graeme Alexander
- University College London Institute of Liver and Digestive Health, London, UK
| | - Anil Dhawan
- Paediatric Liver, GI and Nutrition Centre and Mowat Labs, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK
| | - James Dooley
- University College London Institute of Liver and Digestive Health, London, UK
| | - Godfrey T Gillett
- Laboratory Medicine, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Deirdre Kelly
- Liver Unit, Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Thomas T Warner
- Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | | | | | - Oliver Bandmann
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Shribman S, Bocchetta M, Sudre CH, Acosta-Cabronero J, Burrows M, Cook P, Thomas DL, Gillett GT, Tsochatzis EA, Bandmann O, Rohrer JD, Warner TT. Neuroimaging correlates of brain injury in Wilson's disease: a multimodal, whole-brain MRI study. Brain 2022; 145:263-275. [PMID: 34289020 PMCID: PMC8967100 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Wilson's disease is an autosomal-recessive disorder of copper metabolism with neurological and hepatic presentations. Chelation therapy is used to 'de-copper' patients but neurological outcomes remain unpredictable. A range of neuroimaging abnormalities have been described and may provide insights into disease mechanisms, in addition to prognostic and monitoring biomarkers. Previous quantitative MRI analyses have focused on specific sequences or regions of interest, often stratifying chronically treated patients according to persisting symptoms as opposed to initial presentation. In this cross-sectional study, we performed a combination of unbiased, whole-brain analyses on T1-weighted, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, diffusion-weighted and susceptibility-weighted imaging data from 40 prospectively recruited patients with Wilson's disease (age range 16-68). We compared patients with neurological (n = 23) and hepatic (n = 17) presentations to determine the neuroradiological sequelae of the initial brain injury. We also subcategorized patients according to recent neurological status, classifying those with neurological presentations or deterioration in the preceding 6 months as having 'active' disease. This allowed us to compare patients with active (n = 5) and stable (n = 35) disease and identify imaging correlates for persistent neurological deficits and copper indices in chronically treated, stable patients. Using a combination of voxel-based morphometry and region-of-interest volumetric analyses, we demonstrate that grey matter volumes are lower in the basal ganglia, thalamus, brainstem, cerebellum, anterior insula and orbitofrontal cortex when comparing patients with neurological and hepatic presentations. In chronically treated, stable patients, the severity of neurological deficits correlated with grey matter volumes in similar, predominantly subcortical regions. In contrast, the severity of neurological deficits did not correlate with the volume of white matter hyperintensities, calculated using an automated lesion segmentation algorithm. Using tract-based spatial statistics, increasing neurological severity in chronically treated patients was associated with decreasing axial diffusivity in white matter tracts whereas increasing serum non-caeruloplasmin-bound ('free') copper and active disease were associated with distinct patterns of increasing mean, axial and radial diffusivity. Whole-brain quantitative susceptibility mapping identified increased iron deposition in the putamen, cingulate and medial frontal cortices of patients with neurological presentations relative to those with hepatic presentations and neurological severity was associated with iron deposition in widespread cortical regions in chronically treated patients. Our data indicate that composite measures of subcortical atrophy provide useful prognostic biomarkers, whereas abnormal mean, axial and radial diffusivity are promising monitoring biomarkers. Finally, deposition of brain iron in response to copper accumulation may directly contribute to neurodegeneration in Wilson's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Shribman
- Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Martina Bocchetta
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3AR, UK
| | - Carole H Sudre
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, London WC1E 7HB, UK
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London WC1V 6LJ, UK
- Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | | | - Maggie Burrows
- Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Paul Cook
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - David L Thomas
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3AR, UK
- Neuroradiological Academic Unit, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3AR, UK
| | - Godfrey T Gillett
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK
| | - Emmanuel A Tsochatzis
- UCL Institute of Liver and Digestive Health and Royal Free Hospital, London NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Oliver Bandmann
- Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3AR, UK
| | - Thomas T Warner
- Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Ott P, Ala A, Askari FK, Czlonkowska A, Hilgers R, Poujois A, Roberts EA, Sandahl TD, Weiss KH, Ferenci P, Schilsky ML. Designing Clinical Trials in Wilson's Disease. Hepatology 2021; 74:3460-3471. [PMID: 34320232 PMCID: PMC9291486 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Wilson's disease (WD) is an autosomal-recessive disorder caused by ATP7B gene mutations leading to pathological accumulation of copper in the liver and brain. Adoption of initial treatments for WD was based on empirical observations. These therapies are effective, but there are still unmet needs for which treatment modalities are being developed. An increase of therapeutical trials is anticipated. APPROACH AND RESULTS The first Wilson Disease Aarhus Symposium (May 2019) included a workshop on randomized clinical trial design. The authors of the article were organizers or presented during this workshop, and this article presents their consensus on the design of clinical trials for WD, addressing trial population, treatment comparators, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and treatment endpoints. To achieve adequate recruitment of patients with this rare disorder, the study groups should include all clinical phenotypes and treatment-experienced as well as treatment-naïve patients. CONCLUSIONS The primary study endpoint should be clinical or a composite endpoint until appropriate surrogate endpoints are validated. Standardization of clinical trials will permit pooling of data and allow for better treatment comparisons, as well as reduce the future numbers of patients needed per trial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Ott
- Department of Hepatology and GastroenterologyAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Aftab Ala
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyThe Royal Surrey NHS Foundation TrustGuildfordUnited Kingdom,Department of Clinical and Experimental MedicineUniversity of SurreyGuildfordUnited Kingdom,Institute of Liver StudiesKing’s College HospitalLondonUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Anna Czlonkowska
- Second Department of NeurologyInstitute of Psychiatry and NeurologyWarsawPoland
| | | | - Aurélia Poujois
- Neurology Department and National Reference Centre for Wilson’s DiseaseRothschild Foundation HospitalParisFrance
| | - Eve A. Roberts
- Departments of Paediatrics, Medicine, and Pharmacology and ToxicologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | | | - Karl Heinz Weiss
- Salem Medical CenterHeidelbergGermany,Department of Internal MedicineIV at University Hospital HeidelbergHeidelbergGermany
| | - Peter Ferenci
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Michael L. Schilsky
- Departments of Medicine and SurgeryYale University Medical CenterNew HavenCTUSA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Camarata MA, Ala A, Coskun AK, Deng Y, Gonzalez-Peralta RP, Maciejewski KR, Patel A, Rubman S, To U, Tomlin R, Schilsky ML, Zimbrean PC. The Effect of Mental Health, Neurological Disease, and Liver Disease on Quality of Life in Patients With Wilson Disease. J Acad Consult Liaison Psychiatry 2021; 62:528-537. [PMID: 34044196 PMCID: PMC11165927 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaclp.2021.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wilson disease (WD) is a chronic disorder of copper metabolism which may affect patient's quality of life (QOL). OBJECTIVE Our aim was to assess the relationship between mental QOL (M-QOL) and physical QOL (P-QOL) and severity of the liver, neurological disease and mental health in patients with WD. METHODS At enrollment into our multisite international WD registry, adults (n = 62) were administered examinations assessing QOL (Short-Form 12-Item Health Survey), cognition, and mood. Patients also underwent hepatology and neurological assessments. RESULTS Patients had lower M-QOL than P-QOL scores, P = 0.0006. Patients with major depressive disorder (n = 22) had worse M-QOL scores, P = 0.0017 but not P-QOL. We found no association with impaired cognition (n = 37) and QOL. The P-QOL scores have a moderate negative association with neurological disease severity based on the Unified Wilson Disease Rating Scale score (total [r = -0.38, P < 0.003], part 2 [r = -0.50, P < 0.0001], and part 3 [r = -0.37, P = 0.004]). M-QOL was not associated with Unified Wilson Disease Rating Scale scores. Worse P-QOL, but not M-QOL, was found in higher cirrhosis severity indicated by Child-Pugh (r = -0.80, P = 0.002) and Model for End Stage Liver Disease scores (r = -0.64, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS M-QOL was associated with depression but not cognitive impairment, neurological disease, or liver disease severity, suggesting that mental health issues may affect overall QOL independent of the degree of liver or neurological disease. P-QOL was affected by the severity of neurological and liver disease but not mental health but also contributes to overall QOL in WD. An appreciation of the range of problems that affect QOL in adults with WD will help health care providers address issues that could improve overall well-being. The Short-Form 12-Item Health Survey may provide a useful instrument for QOL surveillance in WD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle A Camarata
- Yale University, Digestive Diseases, Transplantation and Immunology, New Haven, United States; Royal Surrey County Hospital, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Guilford, United Kingdom; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Surrey, Guilford, United Kingdom.
| | - Aftab Ala
- Royal Surrey County Hospital, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Guilford, United Kingdom; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Surrey, Guilford, United Kingdom; King's College Hospital, Institute of Liver Studies, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ayse K Coskun
- Yale University, Digestive diseases, transplantation and immunology, New Haven, United States
| | - Yanhong Deng
- Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, United States
| | | | | | - Amar Patel
- Yale University, Neurology, New Haven, United States
| | - Susan Rubman
- Yale University, Psychiatry, New Haven, United States
| | - Uyen To
- Yale University, Digestive diseases, transplantation and immunology, New Haven, United States
| | - Ricarda Tomlin
- Yale University, Digestive diseases, transplantation and immunology, New Haven, United States
| | - Michael L Schilsky
- Yale University, Digestive diseases, transplantation and immunology, New Haven, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Sánchez-Monteagudo A, Ripollés E, Berenguer M, Espinós C. Wilson's Disease: Facing the Challenge of Diagnosing a Rare Disease. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1100. [PMID: 34572285 PMCID: PMC8471362 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9091100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Wilson disease (WD) is a rare disorder caused by mutations in ATP7B, which leads to the defective biliary excretion of copper. The subsequent gradual accumulation of copper in different organs produces an extremely variable clinical picture, which comprises hepatic, neurological psychiatric, ophthalmological, and other disturbances. WD has a specific treatment, so that early diagnosis is crucial to avoid disease progression and its devastating consequences. The clinical diagnosis is based on the Leipzig score, which considers clinical, histological, biochemical, and genetic data. However, even patients with an initial WD diagnosis based on a high Leipzig score may harbor other conditions that mimic the WD's phenotype (Wilson-like). Many patients are diagnosed using current available methods, but others remain in an uncertain area because of bordering ceruloplasmin levels, inconclusive genetic findings and unclear phenotypes. Currently, the available biomarkers for WD are ceruloplasmin and copper in the liver or in 24 h urine, but they are not solid enough. Therefore, the characterization of biomarkers that allow us to anticipate the evolution of the disease and the monitoring of new drugs is essential to improve its diagnosis and prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sánchez-Monteagudo
- Rare Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF), 46012 Valencia, Spain; (A.S.-M.); (E.R.)
- Joint Unit on Rare Diseases CIPF-IIS La Fe, 46012 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Edna Ripollés
- Rare Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF), 46012 Valencia, Spain; (A.S.-M.); (E.R.)
- Joint Unit on Rare Diseases CIPF-IIS La Fe, 46012 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Marina Berenguer
- Joint Unit on Rare Diseases CIPF-IIS La Fe, 46012 Valencia, Spain;
- Hepatology-Liver Transplantation Unit, Digestive Medicine Service, IIS La Fe and CIBER-EHD, Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat de València, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Espinós
- Rare Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF), 46012 Valencia, Spain; (A.S.-M.); (E.R.)
- Joint Unit on Rare Diseases CIPF-IIS La Fe, 46012 Valencia, Spain;
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Salatzki J, Mohr I, Heins J, Cerci MH, Ochs A, Paul O, Riffel J, André F, Hirschberg K, Müller-Hennessen M, Giannitsis E, Friedrich MG, Merle U, Weiss KH, Katus HA, Ochs M. The impact of Wilson disease on myocardial tissue and function: a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson 2021; 23:84. [PMID: 34162411 PMCID: PMC8223377 DOI: 10.1186/s12968-021-00760-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systemic effects of altered serum copper processing in Wilson Disease (WD) might induce myocardial copper deposition and consequently myocardial dysfunction and structural remodeling. This study sought to investigate the prevalence, manifestation and predictors of myocardial tissue abnormalities in WD patients. METHODS We prospectively enrolled WD patients and an age-matched group of healthy individuals. We applied cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) to analyze myocardial function, strain, and tissue characteristics. A subgroup analysis of WD patients with predominant neurological (WD-neuro+) or hepatic manifestation only (WD-neuro-) was performed. RESULTS Seventy-six patients (37 years (27-49), 47% women) with known WD and 76 age-matched healthy control subjects were studied. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation in WD patients was 5% and the prevalence of symptomatic heart failure was 2.6%. Compared to healthy controls, patients with WD had a reduced left ventricular global circumferential strain (LV-GCS), and also showed abnormalities consistent with global and regional myocardial fibrosis. WD-neuro+ patients presented with more severe structural remodeling and functional impairment when compared to WD-neuro- patients. CONCLUSIONS In a large cohort, WD was not linked to a distinct cardiac phenotype except CMR indexes of myocardial fibrosis. More research is warranted to assess the prognostic implications of these findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION This trial is registered at the local institutional ethics committee (S-188/2018).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janek Salatzki
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Isabelle Mohr
- Department of Gastroenterology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jannick Heins
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mert H Cerci
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas Ochs
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oliver Paul
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Johannes Riffel
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Florian André
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Matthias Müller-Hennessen
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Evangelos Giannitsis
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Semmelweis University Heart and Vascular Center, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Matthias G Friedrich
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Semmelweis University Heart and Vascular Center, Budapest, Hungary
- Division of Cardiology, Departments of Medicine and Diagnostic Radiology, Mc-Gill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Uta Merle
- Department of Gastroenterology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Karl Heinz Weiss
- Department of Gastroenterology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine, Salem Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hugo A Katus
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marco Ochs
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Abstract
Wilson's disease patients with neurological symptoms have motor symptoms and cognitive deficits, including frontal executive, visuospatial processing, and memory impairments. Although the brain structural abnormalities associated with Wilson's disease have been documented, it remains largely unknown how Wilson's disease affects large-scale functional brain networks. In this study, we investigated functional brain networks in Wilson's disease. Particularly, we analyzed resting state functional magnetic resonance images of 30 Wilson's disease patients and 26 healthy controls. First, functional brain networks for each participant were extracted using an independent component analysis method. Then, a computationally efficient pattern classification method was developed to identify discriminative brain functional networks associated with Wilson's disease. Experimental results indicated that Wilson's disease patients, compared with healthy controls, had altered large-scale functional brain networks, including the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and basal ganglia network, the middle frontal gyrus, the dorsal striatum, the inferior parietal lobule, the precuneus, the temporal pole, and the posterior lobe of cerebellum. Classification models built upon these networks distinguished between neurological WD patients and HCs with accuracy up to 86.9% (specificity: 86.7%, sensitivity: 89.7%). The classification scores were correlated with the United Wilson's Disease Rating Scale measures and durations of disease of the patients. These results suggest that Wilson's disease patients have multiple aberrant brain functional networks, and classification scores derived from these networks are associated with severity of clinical symptoms.
Collapse
|
26
|
Shribman S, Heller C, Burrows M, Heslegrave A, Swift I, Foiani MS, Gillett GT, Tsochatzis EA, Rowe JB, Gerhard A, Butler CR, Masellis M, Bremner F, Martin A, Jung L, Cook P, Zetterberg H, Bandmann O, Rohrer JD, Warner TT. Plasma Neurofilament Light as a Biomarker of Neurological Involvement in Wilson's Disease. Mov Disord 2021; 36:503-508. [PMID: 33078859 PMCID: PMC8436757 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Outcomes are unpredictable for neurological presentations of Wilson's disease (WD). Dosing regimens for chelation therapy vary and monitoring depends on copper indices, which do not reflect end-organ damage. OBJECTIVE To identify a biomarker for neurological involvement in WD. METHODS Neuronal and glial-specific proteins were measured in plasma samples from 40 patients and 38 age-matched controls. Patients were divided into neurological or hepatic presentations and those with recent neurological presentations or deterioration associated with non-adherence were subcategorized as having active neurological disease. Unified WD Rating Scale scores and copper indices were recorded. RESULTS Unlike copper indices, neurofilament light (NfL) concentrations were higher in neurological than hepatic presentations. They were also higher in those with active neurological disease when controlling for severity and correlated with neurological examination subscores in stable patients. CONCLUSION NfL is a biomarker of neurological involvement with potential use in guiding chelation therapy and clinical trials for novel treatments. © 2020 University College London. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Shribman
- Department of Clinical and Movement NeurosciencesReta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Carolin Heller
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUnited Kingdom
- Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseUK Dementia Research Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Maggie Burrows
- Department of Clinical and Movement NeurosciencesReta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Amanda Heslegrave
- Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseUK Dementia Research Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Imogen Swift
- Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseUK Dementia Research Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Martha S. Foiani
- Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseUK Dementia Research Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Godfrey T. Gillett
- Department of Clinical ChemistryNorthern General HospitalSheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Emmanuel A. Tsochatzis
- UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive HealthRoyal Free Hospital and UCLLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - James B. Rowe
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals TrustCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Alex Gerhard
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Wolfson Molecular Imaging CentreUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUnited Kingdom
- Departments of Geriatric Medicine and Nuclear MedicineUniversity of Duisburg‐EssenDuisburgGermany
| | - Chris R. Butler
- Department of Brain SciencesImperial College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- Nuffield Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Mario Masellis
- Departamento de NeurologíaPontificia Universidad Católica de ChileSantiagoChile
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences CentreSunnybrook Research Institute, University of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Fion Bremner
- Neuro‐OphthalmologyNational Hospital for Neurology and NeurosurgeryLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Alison Martin
- Department of Clinical ChemistryNorthern General HospitalSheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Lynne Jung
- Department of Clinical BiochemistrySouthampton General HospitalSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Paul Cook
- Department of Clinical BiochemistrySouthampton General HospitalSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseUK Dementia Research Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUnited Kingdom
- Clinical Neurochemistry LaboratorySahlgrenska University HospitalMölndalSweden
- Department of Psychiatry and NeurochemistryInstitute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of GothenburgMölndalSweden
| | - Oliver Bandmann
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of SheffieldSheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Jonathan D. Rohrer
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Thomas T. Warner
- Department of Clinical and Movement NeurosciencesReta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Lin J, Zheng Y, Liu Y, Lin Y, Wang Q, Lin XH, Zhu W, Lin WH, Wang N, Chen WJ, Fu Y. Higher Concentration of Plasma Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Wilson Disease Patients with Neurological Manifestations. Mov Disord 2021; 36:1446-1450. [PMID: 33502774 PMCID: PMC8248415 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Wilson disease is a rare, disabling, neurological genetic disease. Biomarkers of brain damage are less well developed. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein as a biomarker for neurological involvement in patients with Wilson disease. Methods This prospective cross‐observational study compared plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein concentration among different subtypes of patients with Wilson disease and healthy control subjects. Plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein levels were measured in 94 patients and 25 healthy control subjects. Patients were divided into two subtypes: patients with neurological manifestations (n = 74) or hepatic manifestations (n = 20). Results Median levels of plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein were significantly elevated in patients with neurological manifestations (143.87 pg/mL) compared with those with hepatic manifestations (107.50 pg/mL) and healthy control subjects (86.85 pg/mL). Receiver operating characteristic curve revealed that a plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein cutoff value of 128.8 pg/mL provides sufficient sensitivity (80.0%) and specificity (63.5%) to differentiate patients with neurological manifestations from those with hepatic manifestations. Conclusions Plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein may serve as a biomarker for distinguishing different subtypes of Wilson disease. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Lin
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yexiang Zheng
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Radiology of First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yi Lin
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qiqi Wang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Lin
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wenli Zhu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wei-Hong Lin
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wan-Jin Chen
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ying Fu
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology of First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Neuroscience, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Yuan XZ, Li GY, Chen JL, Li JQ, Wang XP. Paramagnetic Metal Accumulation in the Deep Gray Matter Nuclei Is Associated With Neurodegeneration in Wilson's Disease. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:573633. [PMID: 33041766 PMCID: PMC7525019 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.573633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Neuropathological studies have revealed copper and iron accumulation in the deep gray matter (DGM) nuclei of patients with Wilson’s disease (WD). However, the association between metal accumulation and neurodegeneration in WD has not been well studied in vivo. The study was aimed to investigate whether metal accumulation in the DGM was associated with the structural and functional changes of DGM in neurological WD patients. Methods Seventeen neurological WD patients and 20 healthy controls were recruited for the study. Mean bulk susceptibility values and volumes of DGM were obtained from quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM). Regions of interest including the head of the caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, putamen, thalamus, substantia nigra, red nucleus, and dentate nucleus were manually segmented. The susceptibility values and volumes of DGM in different groups were compared using a linear regression model. Correlations between susceptibility values and volumes of DGM and Unified Wilson’s Disease Rating Scale (UWDRS) neurological subscores were investigated. Results The susceptibility values of all examined DGM in WD patients were higher than those in healthy controls (P < 0.05). Volume reductions were observed in the head of the caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, putamen, thalamus, and substantia nigra of WD patients (P < 0.001). Susceptibility values were negatively correlated with the volumes of the head of the caudate nucleus (rp = −0.657, P = 0.037), putamen (rp = −0.667, P = 0.037), and thalamus (rp = −0.613, P = 0.046) in WD patients. UWDRS neurological subscores were positively correlated with the susceptibility values of all examined DGM. The susceptibility values of putamen, head of the caudate nucleus, and dentate nucleus could well predict UWDRS neurological subscores. Conclusion Our study provided in vivo evidence that paramagnetic metal accumulation in the DGM was associated with DGM atrophy and neurological impairment. The susceptibility of DGM could be used as a biomarker to assess the severity of neurodegeneration in WD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Zhen Yuan
- Department of Neurology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Gai-Ying Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia-Lin Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian-Qi Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Ping Wang
- Department of Neurology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Bandmann O, Weiss KH, Hedera P. Liver transplant for neurologic Wilson disease: Hope or fallacy? Neurology 2020; 94:907-908. [PMID: 32398360 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000009476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Bandmann
- From the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) (O.B.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Internal Medicine IV (K.H.W.), University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany; and Division of Movement Disorders (P.H.), Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN.
| | - Karl Heinz Weiss
- From the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) (O.B.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Internal Medicine IV (K.H.W.), University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany; and Division of Movement Disorders (P.H.), Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN
| | - Peter Hedera
- From the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) (O.B.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Internal Medicine IV (K.H.W.), University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany; and Division of Movement Disorders (P.H.), Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Wang RM, Yu H, Yang GM, Xu WQ, Xia N, Zhang Y, Ni W, Dong Y, Wu ZY. Clinical features and outcome of Wilson's disease with generalized epilepsy in Chinese patients. CNS Neurosci Ther 2020; 26:842-850. [PMID: 32281751 PMCID: PMC7366741 DOI: 10.1111/cns.13373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Generalized epilepsy is rarely reported in patients with Wilson disease (WD) and lacks experience in clinical practice. We aim to provide better experience for the diagnosis and treatment for WD patients with epilepsy in the future. METHODS A retrospective study was performed in 13 Chinese WD patients with generalized epilepsy. Each patient was diagnosed with WD by clinical evaluation and genetic screening. Patients were given small doses of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), followed by copper-chelation therapy when the seizures stabilized. Clinical manifestations, brain imaging changes, and treatment and outcome after a long-term follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS Four out of 13 (30.8%) patients stopped taking copper-chelation drugs for more than 1 year before they were admitted for epilepsy. The incidence of epilepsy of WD patients in our cohort is 1.43% (13/910), lower than those (4.5%-5.9%) in other populations. After the attack of epilepsy, frontal lobes were the most common abnormalities (13/13, 100%) in patients, followed by brain stem (8/13, 61.5%) and thalamus (7/13, 53.8%). After a long-term follow-up, brain imaging and clinical manifestations of 8 (8/9, 88.9%) WD patients were significantly improved. CONCLUSIONS We firstly described WD patients with generalized epilepsy in the Chinese population. WD patients with aggravation of neuropsychiatric symptoms are prone to occur epilepsy; thus, brain MRI should be performed regularly in those patients. Cortical abnormality in brain MRI is a warning sign of epilepsy. Irregular use of copper-chelation drugs and excessive copper deposition in the brain may be the cause of seizures. Long-term standardized treatment for WD can effectively prevent the extensive brain damage and reduce the incidence of epilepsy in WD patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rou-Min Wang
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hao Yu
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guo-Min Yang
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wan-Qing Xu
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Nan Xia
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wang Ni
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi Dong
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Ying Wu
- Department of Neurology and Research Center of Neurology in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Ferrarese A, Morelli MC, Carrai P, Milana M, Angelico M, Perricone G, Belli LS, Marrone G, Grieco A, Martini S, Manini MA, Fagiuoli S, Toniutto P, Galeota Lanza A, Bhoori S, Petta S, Giannini EG, Burra P. Outcomes of Liver Transplant for Adults With Wilson's Disease. Liver Transpl 2020; 26:507-516. [PMID: 31901209 DOI: 10.1002/lt.25714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare genetic disorder with protean manifestations. Even if liver transplantation (LT) could represent an effective therapeutic option for patients with end-stage liver disease, it has remained controversial in the presence of neuropsychiatric involvement. This study aimed to examine the frequency of adult LT for WD in Italy, focusing on the disease phenotype at the time of LT. A retrospective, observational, multicenter study was conducted across Italy exploring the frequency and characteristics of adults transplanted for WD between 2006 and 2016. A total of 29 adult WD patients underwent LT during the study period at 11 Italian LT centers (accounting for 0.4% of all LTs performed), and 27 of them were considered in this analysis (male/female, n = 9/18; age at LT, 29 years [19-60 years]; median Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score at LT, 27 [6-49]). Isolated hepatic phenotype was the indication for LT in 17 (63%) patients, whereas 2 (7%) patients underwent LT for neurological impairment on compensated liver disease. Overall 1- and 5-year patient survival was excellent (88% and 83%, respectively). Neuropsychiatric symptoms early after LT completely recovered in only a few patients. In conclusion, WD remains an uncommon, unusual indication for LT in Italy, displaying good post-LT graft and patient survival. Because isolated neuropsychiatric involvement represents a rare indication to LT, more data are needed to properly assess the value of LT for WD in this subset of patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Ferrarese
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology, and Gastroenterology, Padua University Hospital, Padua, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Morelli
- Department for Care of Organ Failures and Transplants, Internal Medicine for the Treatment of Severe Organ Failures, University Hospital - Policlinico Sant'Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paola Carrai
- Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit, University of Pisa Medical School and Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Martina Milana
- Liver and Transplant Unit, Tor Vergata University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Angelico
- Liver and Transplant Unit, Tor Vergata University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Perricone
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Liver Unit, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Saverio Belli
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Liver Unit, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Marrone
- Liver Transplant Medicine Unit, Gastroenterological Area, Department of Gastroenterological, Endocrine and Metabolic Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Gemelli, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Grieco
- Liver Transplant Medicine Unit, Gastroenterological Area, Department of Gastroenterological, Endocrine and Metabolic Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Gemelli, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Martini
- Gastrohepatology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Matteo Angelo Manini
- Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology Department, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Stefano Fagiuoli
- Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology Department, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Toniutto
- Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, Department of Medical Area, Udine University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | | | - Sherrie Bhoori
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Milan, Italy
| | - Salvatore Petta
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Dipartimento Biomedico di Medicina Interna e Specialistica, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Edoardo G Giannini
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Instituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico per l'Oncologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Patrizia Burra
- Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology, and Gastroenterology, Padua University Hospital, Padua, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Brain volume is related to neurological impairment and to copper overload in Wilson's disease. Neurol Sci 2019; 40:2089-2095. [PMID: 31147855 PMCID: PMC6745045 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-019-03942-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Introduction To determine whether brain volume was associated with functional and neurological impairments and with copper overload markers in patients with Wilson’s disease. Methods In 48 treatment-naïve patients, we assessed functional and neurological impairments with the Unified Wilson’s Disease Rating Scale, measured normalized brain volumes based on magnetic resonance images, and assessed concentration of non-ceruloplasmin-bound copper. We correlated brain volume measures with functional and neurological impairment scores and copper overload indices. Results Functional and neurological impairments correlated with all brain volume measures, including the total brain volume and the volumes of white matter and gray matter (both peripheral gray matter and deep brain nuclei). Higher non-ceruloplasmin-bound copper concentrations were associated with greater functional and neurological impairments and lower brain volumes. Conclusions Our findings provided the first in vivo evidence that the severity of brain atrophy is a correlate of functional and neurological impairments in patients with Wilson’s disease and that brain volume could serve as a marker of neurodegeneration induced by copper. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s10072-019-03942-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
|
33
|
Zhou ZH, Wu YF, Cao J, Hu JY, Han YZ, Hong MF, Wang GQ, Liu SH, Wang XM. Characteristics of neurological Wilson's disease with corpus callosum abnormalities. BMC Neurol 2019; 19:85. [PMID: 31053106 PMCID: PMC6499990 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-019-1313-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wilson's disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disease of impaired copper metabolism. Previous study demonstrated that WD with corpus callosum abnormalities (WD-CCA) was limited to the posterior part (splenium). This study aimed to compare clinical features between WD-CCA and WD without corpus callosum abnormalities (WD-no-CCA). METHODS Forty-one WD patients who had markedly neurological dysfunctions were included in this study. We retrospectively reviewed clinical, biochemical characteristics and MRI findings in the 41 WD patients. All patients were assessed using the Unified Wilson's Disease Rating Scale. RESULTS Nine patients had corpus callosum abnormalities, 4 of 9 patients had abnormal signal in the genu and splenium, 5 of 9 patients had abnormal signal only in the splenium. WD-CCA had longer course (9.9 ± 4.0 years vs. 3.4 ± 3.6 years, p<0.01), more severe neurological dysfunctions (37.6 vs. 65.9, p<0.01) and higher psychiatric symptoms scores (11.2 vs. 22.5, p<0.01) than WD-no-CCA. The MRI findings indicated that WD-CCA had higher ratio than WD-no-CCA in globus pallidus (88.9% vs. 43.8%, p = 0.024) and thalamus (100% vs. 59.4%, p = 0.038). The index of liver function and copper metabolism had no significant in WD-CCA and WD-no-CCA patients. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate Wilson's disease can involve the posterior as well as the anterior part of CC and patients with CC involvement had more extensive brain lesions, more severe neurological dysfunctions and psychiatric symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Hua Zhou
- Department of Neurology, The first affiliated hospital, school of clinical Medicine of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong China
| | - Yun-Fan Wu
- The second school of clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangdong Second Provinical General Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong China
| | - Jin Cao
- Department of Orthopaedic, Ningbo No.6 hospital, NingBo, Zhejiang China
| | - Ji-Yuan Hu
- Wilson Disease Centre, Hospital Affiliated to Institute of Neurology, Anhui University of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Hefei, Anhui China
| | - Yong-Zhu Han
- Wilson Disease Centre, Hospital Affiliated to Institute of Neurology, Anhui University of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Hefei, Anhui China
| | - Ming-Fan Hong
- Department of Neurology, The first affiliated hospital, school of clinical Medicine of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong China
| | - Gong-Qiang Wang
- Wilson Disease Centre, Hospital Affiliated to Institute of Neurology, Anhui University of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Hefei, Anhui China
| | - Shu-Hu Liu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong China
| | - Xue-Min Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Dusek P, Litwin T, Członkowska A. Neurologic impairment in Wilson disease. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2019; 7:S64. [PMID: 31179301 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2019.02.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Neurologic symptoms in Wilson disease (WD) appear at an older age compared to hepatic symptoms and manifest in patients with misdiagnosed liver disease, in patients when the hepatic stage is clinically silent, in the case of non-compliance with anti-copper treatment, or with treatment failure. Neurologic symptoms in WD are caused by nervous tissue damage that is primarily a consequence of extrahepatic copper toxicity. Copper levels in brain tissues as well as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are diffusely increased by a factor of 10 and its toxicity involves various mechanisms such as mitochondrial toxicity, oxidative stress, cell membrane damage, crosslinking of DNA, and inhibition of enzymes. Excess copper is initially taken-up and buffered by astrocytes and oligodendrocytes but ultimately causes dysfunction of blood-brain-barrier and demyelination. Most severe neuropathologic abnormalities, including tissue rarefaction, reactive astrogliosis, myelin palor, and presence of iron-laden macrophages, are typically present in the putamen while other basal ganglia, thalami, and brainstem are usually less affected. The most common neurologic symptoms of WD are movement disorders including tremor, dystonia, parkinsonism, ataxia and chorea which are associated with dysphagia, dysarthria and drooling. Patients usually manifest with various combinations of these symptoms while purely monosymptomatic presentation is rare. Neurologic symptoms are largely reversible with anti-copper treatment, but a significant number of patients are left with residual impairment. The approach for symptomatic treatment in WD is based on guidelines for management of common movement disorders. The vast majority of WD patients with neurologic symptoms have abnormalities on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Pathologic MRI changes include T2 hyperintensities in the basal ganglia, thalami and white matter, T2 hypointensities in the basal ganglia, and atrophy. Most importantly, brain damage and neurologic symptoms can be prevented with an early initiation of anti-copper treatment. Introducing population WD screening, e.g., by exome sequencing genetic methods, would allow early treatment and decrease the neurologic burden of WD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Petr Dusek
- Department of Neurology and Center of Clinical Neuroscience, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague, Czechia.,Department of Radiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague, Czechia
| | - Tomasz Litwin
- 2nd Department of Neurology, Institute Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Członkowska
- 2nd Department of Neurology, Institute Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Shribman S, Warner TT, Dooley JS. Clinical presentations of Wilson disease. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2019; 7:S60. [PMID: 31179297 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2019.04.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The main presenting features of Wilson disease, many of which mimic common hepatic and neurologic disorders, are discussed. There is a need for specialists in these and related fields to be aware of hints from within and, more importantly, outside their area of expertise that should alert them to consider the diagnosis. Delayed diagnosis and treatment are potentially damaging for the patient. The importance of recognising and promptly investigating Wilson disease at the initial presentation should be understood by all those who assess patients with hepatic or neurologic disorders and/or train others in their specialty.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Shribman
- Reta Lila Weston Institute of Neurological Studies, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Thomas T Warner
- Reta Lila Weston Institute of Neurological Studies, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - James S Dooley
- UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Division of Medicine, Royal Free Campus, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Xu MB, Rong PQ, Jin TY, Zhang PP, Liang HY, Zheng GQ. Chinese Herbal Medicine for Wilson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:277. [PMID: 31001112 PMCID: PMC6455065 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder of chronic copper toxicosis. Currently, Chinese herbal medicines (CHM) is widely used for WD. Here, we conducted an updated systematic review to investigate the efficacy and safety of CHM for WD and its possible mechanisms. Randomized-controlled clinical trials (RCTs), which compared CHM with Western conventional medicine or placebo for WD, were searched in six databases from inception to July 2017. The methodological quality was assessed using 7-item criteria from the Cochrane's collaboration tool. All the data were analyzed using Rev-Man 5.3 software. Eighteen studies involving 1,220 patients were identified for the final analyses. A score of study quality ranged from 2/7 to 4/7 points. Meta-analyses showed that CHM could significantly increase 24-h urinary copper excretion and improve liver function and the total clinical efficacy rate for WD compared with control (p < 0.05). Additionally, CHM was well tolerated in patients with WD. The underlying mechanisms of CHM for WD are associated with reversing the ATP7B mutants, exerting anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and anti-hepatic fibrosis effects. In conclusion, despite the apparent positive results, the present evidence supports, to a limited extent because of the methodological flaws and CHM heterogeneity, that CHM paratherapy can be used for patients with WD but could not be recommended as monotherapy in WD. Further rigorous RCTs focusing on individual CHM formula for WD are warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Guo-Qing Zheng
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Cardiac and autonomic function in patients with Wilson's disease. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2019; 14:22. [PMID: 30691535 PMCID: PMC6348666 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-019-1007-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The clinical effect of copper accumulation on the heart of patients suffering from Wilson’s disease (WD) is not completely understood. We aimed to determine if patients with WD show signs of cardiac involvement, structural heart disease or autonomic dysfunction. In this prospective trial, we studied 61 patients (mean age 44.3 ± 15.2 years, 51% males) with WD and compared them to 61 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. All subjects underwent clinical examination, blood tests, echocardiography and 24 h electrocardiographic (ECG) recording. Results Left- and right ventricular systolic function did not differ significantly between WD patients and controls. However, 5 of the 61 patients had a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Furthermore, diastolic dysfunction was more prevalent in WD patients (9 of 61 vs. 0 of 61, p = 0.001). The severity of WD based on the Unified Wilson’s Disease Rating Scale was significantly correlated to NT-pro BNP (r = 0.34, P = 0.013). Patients with an exacerbation of WD in medical history had higher troponin levels compared to those without (11.3 ± 4.7 vs 4.6 ± 1.2). The autonomic function assessed by triangular index (TI) and SDNN-index was significantly reduced in WD patients compared to controls in most in almost every age category (p-value TI and SDNN: age 20–29, p < 0.001 and 0.05; age 30–39, p < 0.01 and not significant (ns); age 40–49, p < 0,01 and 0.001; age 50–59, p = ns and < 0.001, age 60–70, p < 0.05 and ns). Conclusion Our data demonstrate that cardiac involvement and autonomic dysfunction in WD is possible, however the underlying cause is still not known. We suggest that patients with signs and symptoms of structural heart disease should be examined by a cardiologist in addition to the interdisciplinary treatment team of WD. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13023-019-1007-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
|
38
|
Quick S, Weidauer M, Heidrich FM, Sveric K, Reichmann H, Ibrahim K, Strasser RH, Linke A, Speiser U, Reuner U. Cardiac Manifestation of Wilson’s Disease. J Am Coll Cardiol 2018; 72:2808-2809. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.08.2197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
39
|
Członkowska A, Litwin T, Dzieżyc K, Karliński M, Bring J, Bjartmar C. Characteristics of a newly diagnosed Polish cohort of patients with neurological manifestations of Wilson disease evaluated with the Unified Wilson's Disease Rating Scale. BMC Neurol 2018; 18:34. [PMID: 29621974 PMCID: PMC5887239 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-018-1039-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wilson disease is a rare genetic disorder in which impaired copper excretion results in toxic copper levels and tissue damage. Manifestations are primarily hepatic and/or neuropsychiatric, with a variety of neurological phenotypes. The aim of this study was to characterize neurological signs of Wilson disease in newly diagnosed patients and to determine whether they correlated with disability, liver function, and copper metabolism. METHODS Fifty-three treatment-naïve patients recently diagnosed with Wilson disease who exhibited neurological symptoms were included. Neurological manifestations were characterized by examination in terms of symptom type and degree of neurological impairment (Unified Wilson's Disease Rating Scale [UWDRS] Part III) and correlated with degree of disability (UWDRS Part II), abnormalities in copper parameters and hepatic status. RESULTS Most patients (62.3%) exhibited tremor and ataxia, whereas 15.1% were dystonic, and 11.3% had parkinsonism. Discrete or unclassified signs only were observed in 11.3% of patients. A good correlation between disability (UWDRS Part II) and neurological impairment (UWDRS Part III) was observed (Pearson r = 0.84). However, there was a lack of correlation when either disability or neurological impairment were analyzed with copper parameters or liver impairment. CONCLUSIONS The predominant neurological manifestations in this cohort of newly diagnosed Wilson disease patients were ataxia and tremor. Neurological impairment measured was highly correlated with the level of disability. However, hepatic manifestations of Wilson disease and copper levels did not appear to be correlated with neurological status and disability. These results highlight the challenges faced when assessing Wilson disease with its highly variable symptomatology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Członkowska
- 2nd Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 02 957, Warsaw, Poland. .,Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Tomasz Litwin
- 2nd Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 02 957, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Karolina Dzieżyc
- 2nd Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 02 957, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michal Karliński
- 2nd Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 02 957, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Członkowska A, Litwin T, Chabik G. Wilson disease: neurologic features. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2018; 142:101-119. [PMID: 28433096 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-63625-6.00010-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Wilson disease (WD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, which presents as a spectrum of neurologic manifestations that includes tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, dystonia, chorea, dysarthria, and dysphagia, together with a combination of neurologic symptoms that can easily lead to misdiagnosis. An early diagnosis of WD, and appropriate anticopper treatment, usually leads to a marked improvement in patient health. Conversely, delayed diagnosis can result in persistent pathology, which, left untreated, can ultimately prove lethal. The aim of this chapter is to present a detailed description of the neurologic features of WD, including their evaluation, together with relevant ophthalmologic examinations, brain neuroimaging, and other laboratory measurements that show the extent of the involvement of the nervous system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Członkowska
- Second Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Tomasz Litwin
- Second Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Chabik
- Second Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Aggarwal A, Bhatt M. Advances in Treatment of Wilson Disease. TREMOR AND OTHER HYPERKINETIC MOVEMENTS (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2018. [PMID: 29520330 PMCID: PMC5840318 DOI: 10.7916/d841881d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background Wilson disease (WD) is an inherited neurometabolic disorder that results in excessive copper deposition in the liver and the brain, affecting children and young adults. Without treatment the disease is invariably fatal. Though treatments for WD have been available since the 1950s, the disease continues to be associated with considerable morbidity and mortality because of missed diagnosis, and delayed or inadequate treatment. In this paper we survey WD-related literature in order to review recent advances in WD treatment. Methods We performed a literature search using the PubMed database for articles relating to WD and its medical treatment. We reviewed the articles, and cross-references of relevant articles, to summarize the current practices for treatment of WD. Results The survey shows that if WD is properly treated, in most patients the liver can be stabilized, even severe neurological disability reversed, and patients can resume normal lives. Discussion Medical treatment for WD includes use of copper chelators (penicillamine, trientine, dimercaprol, dimercaptopropane sulfonate, and ammonium tetrathiomolybdate) and drugs that decrease gastrointestinal copper absorption. Our knowledge of the treatment approaches has benefited from the large systematic clinical studies that have been conducted over the last decade. For each drug used to treat WD, we surveyed its development, indication for use, dosing, efficacy, and adverse effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annu Aggarwal
- Wilson Disease Clinic, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute, Mumbai, India
| | - Mohit Bhatt
- Wilson Disease Clinic, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute, Mumbai, India
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Wilson's Disease in Children: A Position Paper by the Hepatology Committee of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2018; 66:334-344. [PMID: 29341979 DOI: 10.1097/mpg.0000000000001787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical presentations of Wilson's disease (WD) in childhood ranges from asymptomatic liver disease to cirrhosis or acute liver failure, whereas neurological and psychiatric symptoms are rare. The basic diagnostic approach includes serum ceruloplasmin and 24-hour urinary copper excretion. Final diagnosis of WD can be established using a diagnostic scoring system based on symptoms, biochemical tests assessing copper metabolism, and molecular analysis of mutations in the ATP7B gene. Pharmacological treatment is life-long and aims at removal of copper excess by chelating agents as D-penicillamine, trientine, or inhibition of intestinal copper absorption with zinc salts. Acute liver failure often requires liver transplantation. This publication aims to provide recommendations for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of WD in children. METHODS Questions addressing the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of WD in children were formulated by a core group of ESPGHAN members. A systematic literature search on WD using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Database from 1990 to 2016 was performed focusing on prospective and retrospective studies in children. Quality of evidence was assessed according to the GRADE system. Expert opinion supported recommendations where the evidence was regarded as weak. The ESPGHAN core group and ESPGHAN Hepatology Committee members voted on each recommendation, using the nominal voting technique.
Collapse
|
43
|
Quantitative transcranial sonography in Wilson's disease and healthy controls: Cut-off values and functional correlates. J Neurol Sci 2017; 385:69-74. [PMID: 29406916 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2017.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
To compare transcranial sonography (TCS) findings in patients with predominantly neurological Wilson's disease (WD) to those from controls, and to correlate TCS data with the clinical profile of WD. Patients with WD (n=40/f=18) and healthy, matched controls (n=49/f=20) were assessed in terms of TCS, serum copper and iron parameters, and clinical scales, such as the Unified Wilson's Disease Rating Scale (UWDRS), Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Beck Depression Inventory. Lenticular nuclei and substantia nigra echogenic area cut-off values clearly differentiated WD patients from controls (area under the curve: 95.4% and 79.4%). Substantia nigra echogenic area was significantly larger in male than in female patients (p=0.001). Compared with controls, patients showed hyperechogenicity also in thalami and midbrain tegmentum/tectum; third ventricle width was increased and midbrain axial area was reduced. In the WD group, male gender correlated with substantia nigra echogenic area (r=0.515, p=0.0007) and serum ferritin levels (r=0.479, p=0.002); lenticular nuclei hyperechogenicity correlated with dystonia (r=0.326, p=0.04) and dysarthria (r=0.334, p=0.035); third ventricle width correlated with dystonia (r=0.439 p=0.005), dysarthria (r=0.449, p=0.004), parkinsonism (r=0.527, p<0.001), UWDRS neurological and total scores (both r=0.504, p=0.0009), MMSE (r=-0.496, p=0.001), and ACE-R (r=-0.534, p=0.0004). Lenticular nuclei echogenic area allowed highly accurate discrimination between patients and controls. The gender differences in substantia nigra echogenicity and iron metabolism are of interest in further studies in WD. TCS reflects different dimensions of WD pathology clearly differentiable from healthy controls and correlating with various clinical characteristics of WD.
Collapse
|
44
|
Li K, Lindauer C, Haase R, Rüdiger H, Reichmann H, Reuner U, Ziemssen T. Autonomic Dysfunction in Wilson's Disease: A Comprehensive Evaluation during a 3-Year Follow Up. Front Physiol 2017; 8:778. [PMID: 29066979 PMCID: PMC5641386 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Wilson's disease is reported to have autonomic dysfunction, but comprehensive evaluation of autonomic function is lacking. Additionally, little is known about the change of autonomic function of Wilson's disease during continuous therapy. We assumed that patients with Wilson's disease had both sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic impairments, and the autonomic dysfunction might be stable across a 3-year follow-up after years of optimal treatment. Methods: Twenty-six patients with Wilson's disease and twenty-six healthy controls were recruited. Twenty patients in the Wilson's disease group were examined again after a 3-year follow-up. All the participants were evaluated by a questionnaire on dysautonomia symptoms, 24-h blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, and cardiovascular autonomic function examination in various conditions including at rest, deep breathing, Valsalva maneuver, isometric handgrip test and passive tilting. Baroreflex sensitivity and spectral analyses were performed via trigonometric regressive spectral analysis. Results: Patients with Wilson's disease showed autonomic dysfunction mainly in the following aspects: (1) the heart rate was higher than the controls. (2) Valsalva ratio was lower in patients with Wilson's disease compared with the controls. (3) Heart rate increase during isometric hand gripping was smaller in the Wilson's disease patients than the controls. (4) Baroreflex sensitivity was lower during nearly all the cardiovascular autonomic function examinations compared with healthy controls. When tested 3 years later, baroreflex sensitivity at rest decreased compared with baseline. (5) There were mild declines of resting DBP and low frequency component of heart rate variability during the follow-up examination compared with baseline. (6) Subgroup analysis showed that patients initially presenting with neurological symptoms had a higher night-time heart rate, lower expiration: inspiration RR interval ratio (E/I ratio), lower expiration: inspiration RR interval difference (E-I difference), less increase of heart rate and diastolic blood pressure during the handgrip test, and lower baroreflex sensitivity during deep breathing than the control group. (7) Correlation analysis showed that the severity of neurological symptoms was associated with E/I ratio, E-I difference, Valsalva ratio, heart rate change during the handgrip test, and baroreflex sensitivity during deep breathing. Conclusions: The present study reveals cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction involving both sympathetic and parasympathetic branches in Wilson's disease patients, which is especially significant in the patients with neurological onset. Autonomic function is generally stable undergoing optimal maintenance treatment in patients with Wilson's disease. Though there might be mild changes of specific parameters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Li
- Department of Neurology, Center of Clinical Neuroscience, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, China
| | - Charlotte Lindauer
- Department of Neurology, Center of Clinical Neuroscience, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Rocco Haase
- Department of Neurology, Center of Clinical Neuroscience, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Heinz Rüdiger
- Department of Neurology, Center of Clinical Neuroscience, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Heinz Reichmann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ulrike Reuner
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tjalf Ziemssen
- Department of Neurology, Center of Clinical Neuroscience, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Weiss KH, Askari FK, Czlonkowska A, Ferenci P, Bronstein JM, Bega D, Ala A, Nicholl D, Flint S, Olsson L, Plitz T, Bjartmar C, Schilsky ML. Bis-choline tetrathiomolybdate in patients with Wilson's disease: an open-label, multicentre, phase 2 study. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017; 2:869-876. [PMID: 28988934 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(17)30293-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wilson's disease is a genetic disorder in which copper accumulates in the liver, brain, and other tissues. Therapies are limited by efficacy, safety concerns, and multiple daily dosing. Bis-choline tetrathiomolybdate (WTX101) is an oral first-in-class copper-protein-binding molecule that targets hepatic intracellular copper and reduces plasma non-ceruloplasmin-bound copper (NCC) by forming tripartite complexes with albumin and increasing biliary copper excretion. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of WTX101 in the initial or early treatment of patients with Wilson's disease. METHODS We did this open-label, phase 2 study at 11 hospitals in the USA and Europe. We enrolled patients (≥18 years) with Wilson's disease who were untreated or had received no more than 24 months of treatment with chelators or zinc, had a Leipzig score of 4 or more, and had NCC concentrations above the lower limit of the normal reference range (≥0·8 μmol/L). Eligible patients received WTX101 monotherapy at a starting dose of 15-60 mg/day on the basis of baseline NCC concentrations for the first 4-8 weeks, with response-guided individualised dosing for the remaining weeks up to week 24. Investigators, other hospital personnel, and patients were aware of the identity of the treatment. The primary endpoint was change in baseline NCC concentrations corrected for copper in tetrathiomolybdate-copper-albumin complexes (NCCcorrected) at 24 weeks, with treatment success defined as achievement or maintenance of normalised NCCcorrected (≤2·3 μmol/L [upper limit of normal]) or achievement of at least a 25% reduction in NCCcorrected from baseline at 24 weeks. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02273596. FINDINGS Between Nov 24, 2014, and April 27, 2016, 28 patients were enrolled and received WTX101; 22 (79%) patients completed the study up to week 24. At 24 weeks, 20 (71%, 95% CI 51·3-86·8; p<0·0001) of 28 patients met the criteria for treatment success: 16 (57%) treated with WTX101 either achieved or maintained normalised NCCcorrected concentrations and 4 (14%) had at least a 25% reduction from baseline NCCcorrected. Mean NCCcorrected was reduced by 72% from baseline to week 24 (least squares mean difference -2·4 μmol/L [SE 0·4], 95% CI -3·2 to -1·6; p<0·0001). No cases of paradoxical drug-related neurological worsening were recorded. Liver function was stable in all patients, although reversible increased concentrations of asymptomatic alanine or aspartate aminotransferase, or γ-glutamyltransferase, without increased bilirubin, occurred in 11 (39%) of 28 patients who received at least 30 mg/day. 11 serious adverse events were reported in seven (25%) patients and included psychiatric disorders (six events in four patients), gait disturbance (one event), elevated liver aminotransferases (two events in two patients, one with agranulocytosis), and decline in neurological functioning (one event, likely due to natural disease progression although causality could not be ruled out). The seven serious adverse events categorised as psychiatric disorders and as gait disturbance were assessed as unlikely to be related to the study drug, whereas the remaining four events were possibly or probably related. INTERPRETATION Our findings indicate that WTX101 might be a promising new therapeutic approach for Wilson's disease, with a unique mode of action. In view of its once-daily dose and favourable safety profile, WTX101 could improve the treatment of patients with this debilitating condition. FUNDING Wilson Therapeutics AB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karl Heinz Weiss
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Anna Czlonkowska
- 2nd Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Peter Ferenci
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeff M Bronstein
- Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Danny Bega
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Aftab Ala
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford, Surrey, UK; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK
| | - David Nicholl
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Michael L Schilsky
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Yale University Medical Center, New Haven, CT, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Volpert HM, Pfeiffenberger J, Gröner JB, Stremmel W, Gotthardt DN, Schäfer M, Weiss KH, Weiler M. Comparative assessment of clinical rating scales in Wilson's disease. BMC Neurol 2017; 17:140. [PMID: 28732478 PMCID: PMC5521125 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-017-0921-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Wilson’s disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism resulting in multifaceted neurological, hepatic, and psychiatric symptoms. The objective of the study was to comparatively assess two clinical rating scales for WD, the Unified Wilson’s Disease Rating Scale (UWDRS) and the Global Assessment Scale for Wilson’s disease (GAS for WD), and to test the feasibility of the patient reported part of the UWDRS neurological subscale (termed the “minimal UWDRS”). Methods In this prospective, monocentric, cross-sectional study, 65 patients (median age 35 [range: 15–62] years; 33 female, 32 male) with treated WD were scored according to the two rating scales. Results The UWDRS neurological subscore correlated with the GAS for WD Tier 2 score (r = 0.80; p < 0.001). Correlations of the UWDRS hepatic subscore and the GAS for WD Tier 1 score with both the Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (r = 0.44/r = 0.28; p < 0.001/p = 0.027) and the Child-Pugh score (r = 0.32/r = 0.12; p = 0.015/p = 0.376) were weak. The “minimal UWDRS” score significantly correlated with the UWDRS total score (r = 0.86), the UWDRS neurological subscore (r = 0.89), and the GAS for WD Tier 2 score (r = 0.86). Conclusions The UWDRS neurological and psychiatric subscales and the GAS for WD Tier 2 score are valuable tools for the clinical assessment of WD patients. The “minimal UWDRS” is a practical prescreening tool outside scientific trials. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12883-017-0921-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna M Volpert
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jan Pfeiffenberger
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jan B Gröner
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Stremmel
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniel N Gotthardt
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mark Schäfer
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Karl Heinz Weiss
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Markus Weiler
- Department of Neurology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Lozeron P, Poujois A, Meppiel E, Masmoudi S, Magnan TP, Vicaut E, Houdart E, Guichard JP, Trocello JM, Woimant F, Kubis N. Inhibitory rTMS applied on somatosensory cortex in Wilson's disease patients with hand dystonia. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2017; 124:1161-1170. [PMID: 28689295 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-017-1756-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Hand dystonia is a common complication of Wilson's disease (WD), responsible for handwriting difficulties and disability. Alteration of sensorimotor integration and overactivity of the somatosensory cortex have been demonstrated in dystonia. This study investigated the immediate after effect of an inhibitory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied over the somatosensory cortex on the writing function in WD patients with hand dystonia. We performed a pilot prospective randomized double-blind sham-controlled crossover rTMS study. A 20-min 1-Hz rTMS session, stereotaxically guided, was applied over the left somatosensory cortex in 13 WD patients with right dystonic writer's cramp. After 3 days, each patient was crossed-over to the alternative treatment. Patients were clinically evaluated before and immediately after each rTMS session with the Unified Wilson's Disease rating scale (UWDRS), the Writers' Cramp Rating Scale (WCRS), a specifically designed scale for handwriting difficulties in Wilson's disease patients (FAR, flow, accuracy, and rhythmicity evaluation), and a visual analog scale (VAS) for handwriting discomfort. No significant change in UWDRS, WCRS, VAS, or FAR scores was observed in patients treated with somatosensory inhibitory rTMS compared to the sham protocol. The FAR negatively correlated with UWDRS (r = -0.6; P = 0.02), but not with the WCRS score, disease duration, MRI diffusion lesions, or with atrophy scores. In our experimental conditions, a single inhibitory rTMS session applied over somatosensory cortex did not improve dystonic writer cramp in WD patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Lozeron
- Service de Physiologie Clinique-Explorations Fonctionnelles, AP-HP, Hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise Paré, 75010, Paris, France.,Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75475, Paris, France.,INSERM UMR965, 75475, Paris, France
| | - Aurélia Poujois
- Service de Neurologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France.,Centre de référence national de la maladie de Wilson, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
| | - Elodie Meppiel
- Service de Physiologie Clinique-Explorations Fonctionnelles, AP-HP, Hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise Paré, 75010, Paris, France
| | - Sana Masmoudi
- Service de Physiologie Clinique-Explorations Fonctionnelles, AP-HP, Hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise Paré, 75010, Paris, France
| | - Thierry Peron Magnan
- Centre de référence national de la maladie de Wilson, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
| | - Eric Vicaut
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75475, Paris, France.,Unité de Recherche Clinique, AP-HP, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Houdart
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75475, Paris, France.,Service de Neuroradiologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
| | | | - Jean-Marc Trocello
- Service de Neurologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France.,Centre de référence national de la maladie de Wilson, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
| | - France Woimant
- Service de Neurologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France.,Centre de référence national de la maladie de Wilson, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Kubis
- Service de Physiologie Clinique-Explorations Fonctionnelles, AP-HP, Hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise Paré, 75010, Paris, France. .,Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75475, Paris, France. .,INSERM UMR965, 75475, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Trindade MC, Bittencourt T, Lorenzi-Filho G, Alves RC, de Andrade DC, Fonoff ET, Bor-Seng-Shu E, Machado AA, Teixeira MJ, Barbosa ER, Tribl GG. Restless legs syndrome in Wilson's disease: frequency, characteristics, and mimics. Acta Neurol Scand 2017; 135:211-218. [PMID: 26940540 DOI: 10.1111/ane.12585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine characteristics, clinical significance, frequency, and mimics of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a cohort of Wilson's disease (WD, n = 42/f = 18), compared to healthy, matched controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS Structured clinical interviews (patients and caregiving family members), repeated neurological examinations (afternoon and presleep), comprehensive laboratory tests, WD-, RLS-, and sleep-specific rating scales, and video-polysomnography. RESULTS Thirteen patients with WD (13/42 = 31.0%) clearly fulfilled the five diagnostic criteria of RLS; in eight patients (19.1%), the burden of RLS was clinically significant. The RLS was of moderate severity, equally distributed among sexes, manifested mainly in the evening and before falling asleep, and had developed mostly after clinical manifestation of WD (time elapsed 10.2 ± 14.5 years), still at a young mean age (27.5 ± 11.5 years). The known RLS-associated features were absent (normal iron and kidney parameters) or rare (positive family history, polyneuropathy). Compared to WD patients without RLS, patients with RLS were significantly elder and had suffered longer from WD. WD-specific RLS mimics as well as RLS confounding motor comorbidities (dystonia, tremor, chorea) were frequent and a diagnostic challenge; in difficult cases, the differentiation was reached by clinical observation of the motor behavior in the evening or at nighttime. CONCLUSION RLS was frequent in this cohort of WD and might be causally related to WD. RLS should be included in the diagnostic work-up of WD. In complex motor disorders, differential diagnosis of RLS might require evening/nighttime examination and video-polysomnography. In WD patients with a clinically significant RLS, treatment with dopaminergic substances may be considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M. C. Trindade
- Division of Neurology and Neurosurgery; Hospital das Clinicas; University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine; Sao Paulo Brazil
| | - T. Bittencourt
- Sleep Laboratory; Pulmonary Division; InCor; University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine; Sao Paulo Brazil
| | - G. Lorenzi-Filho
- Sleep Laboratory; Pulmonary Division; InCor; University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine; Sao Paulo Brazil
| | - R. C. Alves
- Division of Neurology and Neurosurgery; Hospital das Clinicas; University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine; Sao Paulo Brazil
| | - D. C. de Andrade
- Division of Neurology and Neurosurgery; Hospital das Clinicas; University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine; Sao Paulo Brazil
| | - E. T. Fonoff
- Division of Neurology and Neurosurgery; Hospital das Clinicas; University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine; Sao Paulo Brazil
| | - E. Bor-Seng-Shu
- Division of Neurology and Neurosurgery; Hospital das Clinicas; University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine; Sao Paulo Brazil
| | - A. A. Machado
- Division of Neurology and Neurosurgery; Hospital das Clinicas; University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine; Sao Paulo Brazil
| | - M. J. Teixeira
- Division of Neurology and Neurosurgery; Hospital das Clinicas; University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine; Sao Paulo Brazil
| | - E. R. Barbosa
- Division of Neurology and Neurosurgery; Hospital das Clinicas; University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine; Sao Paulo Brazil
| | - G. G. Tribl
- Division of Neurology and Neurosurgery; Hospital das Clinicas; University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine; Sao Paulo Brazil
- Sleep Laboratory; Pulmonary Division; InCor; University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine; Sao Paulo Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Członkowska A, Litwin T. Wilson disease - currently used anticopper therapy. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2017; 142:181-191. [PMID: 28433101 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-63625-6.00015-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Wilson disease (WD) is a genetic disorder of copper metabolism that can be treated successfully with pharmacologic treatment. Two groups of drugs are currently used: chelators (e.g., d-penicillamine and trientine), which increase urinary copper excretion, and zinc salts, which inhibit copper absorption in the digestive tract. The mechanisms of action lead to a negative copper balance, stopping pathologic accumulation of copper in the tissues and clearing affected organs of copper overload. Due to a lack of prospective clinical trials, the use of drugs depends mainly on center experience and the accessibility in different countries or regions. This chapter presents the different reports and recommendations regarding WD treatment. In addition to the different expert opinions on pharmacologic agents, there are a few axioms regarding WD treatment: treatment should start immediately after diagnosis, even in clinically presymptomatic cases; the patient should be treated for life, making compliance a key factor in treatment success; and the treatment should be monitored regularly via liver and hematologic tests, neurologic examination, and copper metabolism, modifying the treatment accordingly. Other drugs proposed for WD treatment (e.g., tetrathiomolybdate) are in clinical trials and lack current recommendations. Thus, only the currently available options for WD pharmacologic treatment are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Członkowska
- Second Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Tomasz Litwin
- Second Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Abstract
Clinical presentation of Wilson disease can vary widely; therefore diagnosis is not always straightforward. Wilson disease is not just a disease of children and young adults, but may present at any age. The key features of Wilson disease are liver disease and cirrhosis, neuropsychiatric disturbances, Kayser-Fleischer rings, and acute episodes of hemolysis, often in association with acute liver failure. Diagnosis is particularly difficult in children and in adults presenting with active liver disease. None of the available laboratory tests is perfect and may not be specific for Wilson disease. A detailed neurologic examination is required for all cases. Neuroimaging and electrophysiologic methods are helpful. To overcome the diagnostic challenge, several clinical signs (Kayser-Fleischer rings, neurologic symptoms) and laboratory features (copper in serum, urine, liver; serum ceruloplasmin; genetic testing) are scored 0 (absent) to 2 (present) and the Leipzig score is calculated. If the score is ≥4, the diagnosis of Wilson disease is very likely. For asymptomatic siblings of index patients, mutation analysis is the most reliable approach.
Collapse
|