1/28. Albumin dialysis: effective removal of copper in a patient with fulminant Wilson disease and successful bridging to liver transplantation: a new possibility for the elimination of protein-bound toxins.BACKGROUND: Acute liver failure may be the first manifestation of Wilson disease. If copper elimination fails, liver transplantation is the only remaining therapeutic option. Albumin dialysis, a new method for the removal of protein-bound toxins, was performed in a patient with fulminant Wilson disease. methods: An 18-year-old man with Wilson disease presented with hyperacute liver failure, hepatic encephalopathy III, oligo-anuric renal failure, haemolytic anaemia, rhabdomyolysis, pancreatitis and thrombocytopenia. He was treated with albumin dialysis using a 44 g/l albumin-containing dialysate and a slow dialysate flow rate (1-2 l/h). The other details of the technique used are similar to routine continuous veno-venous haemodiafiltration. RESULTS: One hundred and five milligrams of copper were removed by albumin dialysis within the first six treatments, resulting in normalisation of blood-copper levels. Successful treatment of the multiorgan failure was achieved. hepatic encephalopathy improved within 2 days. The patient initially refused liver transplantation. Therefore 35 additional albumin dialysis treatments were performed. Forty-three grams of bilirubin (an indicator of detoxified substances in the liver) and 196 mg of copper were removed. Multiorgan failure, in particular hepatic encephalopathy, did not recur during 59 days of treatment. Eventually, the patient agreed to liver transplantation and that was successful. CONCLUSION: Albumin dialysis is a new method for the effective treatment of fulminant Wilson disease, resulting in the removal of protein-bound toxins copper and bilirubin. It may serve as a new treatment option in hyperacute liver failure of other origin, acting as an extracorporeal detoxifier.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaemia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/28. Severe hepatic Wilson's disease in preschool-aged children.A 3-year-old girl presented with hemolytic anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, ascites, and evidence of decompensated chronic liver disease. Genotypic dna analysis revealed that the patient was homozygous for a splice site mutation now designated IVS4-1:G>C, expected to destroy completely the functional gene product of ATP7B, the gene responsible for Wilson's disease. We suggest that this severe mutation caused very early liver disease. Wilson's disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of established liver disease in the preschool-aged child.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 10.620258039571keywords = hemolytic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/28. Acute hemolytic anemia as an initial clinical manifestation of Wilson's disease.Wilson's disease is an inherited disorder of copper transport in the organism, transmitted in autosomal recessive fashion. It is caused by dysfunction in homologous copper-transporting adenosine triphosphatases. The main clinical symptoms are usually due to hepatic (42%) or/and neurologic (34%) involvement, which is the reason for the name hepatolenticular degeneration. Described in this report are four cases--the first three demonstrate an unusual form of manifestation of Wilson's disease in clinical practice--glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency hemolytic anemia. The fourth case concerns acute intravascular hemolysis that was provoked by the disease and presented without erythrocyte enzyme disturbances. Hemolytic anemia is a recognized but rare (10-15%) complication of the disease. Most often Coombs' negative acute intravascular hemolysis occurs as a consequence of oxidative damage to the erythrocytes by the higher copper concentration. A literature review with discussion of the possible mechanisms for the development of this phenomenon is done.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 53.101290197854keywords = hemolytic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/28. Haemolytic onset of Wilson disease in a patient with homozygous truncation of ATP7B at Arg1319.We describe a 19-year-old woman with haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenia as the initial manifestation of Wilson disease (WD). There are two reasons for reporting such an improbable case. First, it emphasizes the importance of recognizing atypical clinical presentations of potentially lethal recessive traits for which therapy is available. Second, it shows that, even in a monogenic disorder like WD, the phenotype cannot be extrapolated from the mutated genotype in a simple fashion; this patient had a relatively late-onset form of WD despite homozygosity for a genetic lesion leading to an apparent complete loss of function of the WD copper transporter.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaemia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/28. cholelithiasis in a child--an unusual presentation of Wilson's disease.A nine year old mentally retarded girl with moderate splenomegaly and ascites presented with chronic cholelithiasis. The presence of Kayser-Fleischer rings and low serum ceruloplasmin level confirmed the diagnosis of Wilson's disease. Cirrhosis of liver and recurrent episodes of hemolysis--these two common complications of Wilson's disease make an ideal setting for gall stone formation. Only three such cases have been reported worldwide and ours is the first case report from india. We suggest that cholelithiasis and splenomegaly in a child without evidence of congenital hemolytic disease should be taken as a suspect of Wilson's disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 10.620258039571keywords = hemolytic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/28. D-penicillamine and plasmapheresis in acute liver failure secondary to Wilson's disease.We report a case of a 19-year-old woman with acute liver failure, Coombs negative hemolytic anemia, and renal failure as initial manifestations of Wilson disease with recovery following medical treatment. The clinical picture and low serum transaminase and alkaline phosphatase levels gave us a clue to suspect Wilson disease and to initiate plasmapheresis and D-penicillamine soon after admission. The serum and urinary copper levels were elevated with low serum ceruloplasmin. We proceeded to ambulatory follow-up with medical treatment with D-penicillamine. A few months later, during the course of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy because of symptomatic gallstone disease, a liver biopsy sample was obtained that showed histological liver fibrosis and strongly elevated levels of liver tissue copper.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 10.620258039571keywords = hemolytic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/28. Bridging use of plasma exchange and continuous hemodiafiltration before living donor liver transplantation in fulminant Wilson's disease.A 15-year-old girl presented with acute hepatic failure showing ascites and hepatic encephalopathy, accompanied by hemolytic anemia. She was diagnosed as having fulminant Wilson's disease (FWD). plasma exchange (PE), continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) and D-penicillamine administration were started immediately. copper [24,000 microg] was removed by PE and CHDF over three days, which relieved the jaundice and the consciousness disorder. A successful liver transplant followed. FWD progresses rapidly and often liver transplantation is the only possible therapy. In this case, PE and CHDF were an effective therapy bridge until liver transplantation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 10.620258039571keywords = hemolytic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/28. Wilson's disease--unusual features.Two cases of Wilson's disease with unusual features are reported. In one case neurological abnormality was the presenting feature without any clinical involvement of the liver. In the other case, neurologic manifestations were associated with rickets and cholelithiasis, a result of chronic hemolytic state. Apart from clinical profile both the cases were diagnosed by grossly reduced serum ceruloplasmin level. However, Kayser-Fleischer rings were found in each case.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 10.620258039571keywords = hemolytic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/28. Contribution of Va24Vb11 natural killer T cells in Wilsonian hepatitis.Wilson disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper transport, resulting in copper accumulation and toxicity to the liver and brain. There is no evidence that the WD patient's immune system attacks copper accumulated hepatocytes. Here we describe that the frequency and absolute number of Valpha24 Vbeta11 natural killer T (NKT) cells were significantly increased in 3 cases of WD, whereas those of CD3 CD161 NKT cells were within the normal range. patients no. 1 and 2 had a presymptomatic form of WD. Their tissue specimens showed pathological changes of mild degeneration of hepatocytes with a few infiltrating mononuclear cells and a low degree of fatty change. Patient no. 3 displayed fulminant hepatitis with Coombs-negative haemolytic anaemia. The tissue specimens of patient no. 3 showed macronodular cirrhosis with thick fibrosis, inflammatory infiltrates and spotty necrosis. Human Valpha24 Vbeta11 NKT cells are almost equal to CD1d-restricted NKT cells. Therefore we investigated CD1d-restricted NKT cells in the LEC rat as an animal model of WD. In LEC rats before hepatitis onset, the number and phenotype of liver NKT cells were normal. At about 4 months of age all LEC rats developed acute hepatitis accompanied by acute jaundice, and CD161high NKT cells developed in their livers. CD161highalphabetaTCRbright NKT cells developed in some of them. Their hepatitis was severe. CD161highalphabetaTCRbright NKT cells expressed an invariant rat Valpha14-Jalpha281 chain, which is CD1d-restricted. Furthermore, liver lymphocytes in the acute jaundiced LEC rats with CD161highalphabetaTCRbright NKT cells had significant and CD1d-specific cytotoxic activity.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = anaemia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/28. D-penicillamine improved laparoscopic and histological findings of the liver in a patient with Wilson's disease: 3-year follow-up after diagnosis of Coombs-negative hemolytic anemia of Wilson's disease.We report a 13-year-old girl who presented with hepatic failure and hemolytic anemia. Laboratory findings showed a normal serum copper level (104 microg/dl), high urinary copper level (2370 microg/dl), and low serum ceruloplasmin level (14.3 microg/dl). Slit-lamp examination revealed Kayser-Fleischer rings on her cornea, and she was diagnosed with Wilson's disease. plasma exchange and continuous hemodiafiltration relieved the serious condition, after that laparoscopic examination was performed. Administration of D-penicillamine and restriction of dietary copper (<1 mg/day) were started, leading to a normalized serum alanine amino transferase (ALT) level. After 3 years, she again underwent laparoscopic examination, and the laparoscopic and histological findings of her liver were obviously improved. Management of the copper level can reverse severe liver fibrosis in Wilson's disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 53.101290197854keywords = hemolytic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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