A case study: identifying a new case of Wilson's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To present a case of Wilson's disease that presented with fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, and splenomegaly. Patient information, diagnostic tests, etiology, anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, assessment, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, medical treatment, nursing interventions, patient education, and research findings related to Wilson's disease are discussed.


METHODS
Case study and scientific literature from Internet, journals, and medical textbooks.


CONCLUSIONS
Wilson's disease is a hereditary, autosomal-recessive disease affecting copper excretion. As copper accumulates, signs and symptoms appear. Individuals often present with nonspecific findings, making diagnosis difficult.


CONCLUSIONS
This article reviews this rare but potentially devastating disease. Early diagnosis is vital to prevent copper accumulation leading to hepatic cirrhosis, basal ganglia degeneration, and irreversible organ damage.
Noble
Jeannette A
JA
Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA. janoble@bsu.edu
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006527:Hepatolenticular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D014266:Trientine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology; D019345:Zinc Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002614:Chelating Agents; D019345:Zinc Acetate; D010396:Penicillamine; D014266:Trientine