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Wilson disease: copper deficiency and iatrogenic neurological complications with zinc therapy
Author(s) -
Wu Landy M.,
Ekladious Adel,
Wheeler Luke,
Mohamad Abdulrazak A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/imj.14694
Subject(s) - medicine , copper deficiency , zinc , subacute combined degeneration , copper , zinc deficiency (plant disorder) , disease , surgery , spinal cord , pathology , metallurgy , micronutrient , psychiatry , materials science
A 17‐year‐old female was diagnosed with Wilson disease and commenced on oral zinc therapy. She re‐presented 6 months later with a fall and had classical signs of subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord confirmed on nerve conduction studies, as a result of zinc‐induced copper deficiency. After 6 months of copper therapy, she made a complete recovery with no residual neurological deficits. Early detection of zinc‐induced copper deficiency and stringent follow‐up mechanisms are crucial. Early initiation of copper replacement may both limit and completely reverse neurological deficits.