Dangers of non-compliance in Wilson's disease.
A patient who presented with severe hepatic Wilson's disease at age 14 responded well to treatment with penicillamine and remained in good health for a further 20 years, although she became somewhat careless about her medication towards the end of this period. Finally she abandoned treatment altogether and died of hepatic failure 2 1/2 years later. Abdominal computed tomography showed that the main structural damage to the liver occurred in this relatively short period of non-compliance after over 20 years of normal health on maintenance penicillamine therapy.
Walshe
J M
JM
Dixon
A K
AK
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001201:Ascites / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006527:Hepatolenticular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology; D008134:Long-Term Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003300:Copper; D010396:Penicillamine