Wilson's Disease
Alternate Names : Hepatolenticular Degeneration
What can be done to prevent the disease?
Nothing can be done to prevent Wilson's disease in someone who has already been
born.
Genetic testing can determine whether someone has the gene for
Wilson's disease. Genetic counseling is useful for people with a family
history of the disease.
What are the long-term effects of the disease?
If untreated, Wilson's disease causes death. A delay in treatment can cause
permanent brain damage,
hepatitis, or cirrhosis. If treatment is started early and
continued for life, there may be no long-term effects.
What are the risks to others?
Wilson's disease is not contagious. It is an autosomal recessive disorder. That
means the disease occurs in people who get the defective gene from both
parents. Parents who have had a child with Wilson's disease are at risk for
having other affected children.
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