title: Myelopathy secondary to copper deficiency as a complication of treatment of Wilson's disease.
abstract: Wilson's Disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism resulting in a pathological accumulation of this metal, initially in the liver and later in other organs, mainly brain. Treatment with copper chelating agents and zinc salts results in a depletion of copper deposits and prevents or reverses the clinical manifestations. Copper deficiency may cause haematological and neurological changes, the latter principally being polyneuropathy and myelopathy. We report a patient with WD who developed a myelopathy associated with a deficiency of copper following prolonged treatment with D-penicillamine and zinc salts.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Morales Meseguer, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lozano Herrero
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muñoz Bertrán
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ortega González
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gómez Espín
authors.forename: María Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: López Espín
mesh_terms: D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000032:analysis; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015913:Chelation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003300:Copper / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000139:chemically induced; D006527:Hepatolenticular Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015032:Zinc / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D003300:Copper; D002570:Ceruloplasmin; D010396:Penicillamine; D015032:Zinc