Zinc monotherapy is not as effective as chelating agents in treatment of Wilson disease

Characteristics of patients with Wilson disease in the United States: An insurance claims database study

BACKGROUND

Wilson disease (WD) is a progressive, potentially fatal degenerative disease affecting the liver and central nervous system. Given its low prevalence, collecting data on large cohorts of patients with WD is challenging. Comprehensive insurance claims databases provide powerful tools to collect retrospective data on large numbers of patients with rare diseases.

AIM

To describe patients with WD in the United States, their treatment and clinical outcome, using a large insurance claims database.

METHODS

This retrospective, longitudinal study was performed in the Clarivate Real-World Data Product database. All patients with ≥ 2 claims associated with an International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD-10) diagnostic code for WD (E83.01) between 2016 and 2021 were included and followed until death or study end. Patients were divided into two groups by whether or not they were documented to have received a specific treatment for WD. Clinical manifestations, hospitalisations, liver transplantation and death were documented.

RESULTS

Overall, 5376 patients with an ICD-10 diagnostic code for WD were identified. The mean age at inclusion was 41.2 years and 52.0% were men. A specific WD treatment was documented for 885 patients (15.1%), although the number of patients taking zinc salts may be underestimated due to over the counter purchase. At inclusion, the mean age of patients with a documented treatment was 36.6 ± 17.8 years vs 42.2 ± 19.6 years in those without a documented treatment. During follow-up, 273 patients (5.1%) died. Compared with the American general population, the standardised mortality ratio was 2.19. The proportion of patients with a documented WD-specific treatment who died during follow-up was 4.0% and the mean age at death 52.7 years.

CONCLUSION

Patients treated for WD in the United States had an excess early mortality compared with the American population. These findings indicate that there is a significant unmet need for effective treatment for WD in the United States.

Challenges and dilemmas in pediatric hepatic Wilson's disease

Wilson disease is an autosomal recessive disorder affecting the ATP7B gene located on chromosome 13q. This leads to copper deposition in various organs, most importantly in the liver and brain. The genetic mutations are vast, well reported in the West but poorly documented in developing countries. Hence the diagnosis is made with a constellation of clinico-laboratory parameters which have significant overlap with other liver diseases and often pose a significant dilemma for clinicians. Diagnostic scoring systems are not fool-proof. The availability and affordability of chelators in developing countries impact the drug compliance of patients. While D-penicillamine is a potent drug, its side effects lead to drug discontinuation. Trientine is cost-prohibitive in developing countries. There is no single test to assess the adequacy of chelation. Exchangeable urinary copper is an essential upcoming diagnostic and prognostic tool. In the presence of cirrhosis, hypersplenism clouds the assessment of myelosuppression of drugs. Similarly, it may be difficult to distinguish disease tubulopathy from drug-induced glomerulonephritis. Neurological worsening due to chelators may appear similar to disease progression. Presentation as fulminant hepatic failure requires rapid workup. There is a limited window of opportunity to salvage these patients with the help of plasmapheresis and other liver-assisted devices. This review addresses the challenges and clinical dilemmas faced at beside in developing countries.

Significant heterogeneity in the diagnosis and long-term management of Wilson disease: Results from a large multicenter Spanish study

There is uncertainty regarding Wilson's disease (WD) management.

OBJECTIVES

To assess, in a multicenter Spanish retrospective cohort study, whether the approach to WD is homogeneous among centers.

METHODS

Data on WD patients followed at 32 Spanish hospitals were collected.

RESULTS

153 cases, 58% men, 20.6 years at diagnosis, 69.1% hepatic presentation, were followed for 15.5 years. Discordant results in non-invasive laboratory parameters were present in 39.8%. Intrahepatic copper concentration was pathologic in 82.4%. Genetic testing was only done in 56.6% with positive results in 83.9%. A definite WD diagnosis (Leipzig score ≥4) was retrospectively confirmed in 92.5% of cases. Chelating agents were standard initial therapy (75.2%) with frequent modifications (57%), particularly to maintenance zinc. Enzyme normalization was not achieved by one third, most commonly in the setting of poor compliance, lack of genetic mutations and/or presence of cardiometabolic risk factors. Although not statistically significant, there were trends for sex differences in number of diagnosed cases, age at diagnosis and biochemical response.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant heterogeneity in diagnosis and management of WD patients emerges from this multicenter study that includes both small and large reference centers. The incorporation of genetic testing will likely improve diagnosis. Sex differences need to be further explored.

Evaluation and Management of Nutritional Consequences of Chronic Liver Diseases

Liver diseases are the major predisposing conditions for the development of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and frailty. Recently, the mechanism of the onset of these complications has been better established. Regardless of the etiology of the underlying liver disease, the clinical manifestations are common. The main consequences are impaired dietary intake, altered macro- and micronutrient metabolism, energy metabolism disturbances, an increase in energy expenditure, nutrient malabsorption, sarcopenia, frailty, and osteopathy. These complications have direct effects on clinical outcomes, survival, and quality of life. The nutritional status should be assessed systematically and periodically during follow-up in these patients. Maintaining and preserving an adequate nutritional status is crucial and should be a mainstay of treatment. Although general nutritional interventions have been established, special considerations are needed in specific settings such as decompensated cirrhosis, alcohol-related liver disease, and metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease. In this review, we summarize the physiopathology and factors that impact the nutritional status of liver disease. We review how to assess malnutrition and sarcopenia and how to prevent and manage these complications in this setting.

Wilson's Disease: A Prevalence Study in a Portuguese Population

Introduction Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare and underdiagnosed genetic disorder caused by anomalous tissue copper deposition, and for which epidemiological studies, specifically in Portugal, are scarce. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and incidence of WD and provide a description of its main clinical and laboratory features. Methods A retrospective study was carried out, with a search between 1995 and 2015, of all patients with a minimum follow-up of three months and birth confirmed in the northern region of Portugal, with an estimated population of 3,689,682 inhabitants. Database collection was based on the Portuguese National Health Service's clinical coding system, relying on clinical data from 13 northern Portuguese hospitals, liver biopsy histology results, and hospital prescription records. Clinical and biochemical correlations were statistically assessed using chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, Friedman, and Wilcoxon tests. Results Over the 20-year period, a prevalence of 1:37.000 and an incidence of one per million person-year was found. A total of 94 patients were analyzed, with a slight male predominance (53%), the majority with the onset of clinical manifestations in pediatric age (56%), with a median age at diagnosis of 16.6 years (interquartile range of 12.3-20,.8 years). Most patients presented with predominant liver disease (54.8%), with more than a third with cirrhosis; mixed hepatic and neurological manifestations in 17.9%; and mainly neurological symptoms in 10.7% of the patients. Neurological impairment was strongly associated with delayed development of the manifestations of the disease (p = 0.001) and also a higher detection of Kayser-Fleischer rings (p < 0.001), present in 27.0% of the patients. Regarding therapy, penicillamine has been the most widely used, with adverse reactions reported in 24.8%. At six and 12 months after initiation of therapy, a significant decrease in liver enzymes was found (ALT: p = 0.002; AST: p = 0.002, respectively), but no significant reduction was observed in urinary copper excretion. Conclusion This was one of the first studies regarding WD prevalence in a Portuguese population, contributing to a better understanding of the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of WD in the northern region of Portugal. WD should be considered in any individual with unexplained hepatic or neurological manifestations, and initial symptoms may manifest at an early age, even in children less than five years old. A high percentage of patients were identified in the early stages of the disease by asymptomatic elevation of transaminases. Following copper chelation therapy, cytolysis markers appear to be more sensitive indicators of treatment response.

Neurological worsening in Wilson disease - clinical classification and outcome

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Prevention of neurological worsening (NW) under therapy is an unmet need in the management of Wilson disease (WD). In this study, we aimed to characterize the occurrence, associated outcomes and potential reversibility of NW in WD.

METHODS

From a total cohort of 457 patients with WD, 128 patients with WD and neurological features at any time point (all Caucasian, 63 females, median age at diagnosis 22 years) were identified by chart review at University Hospital Heidelberg and grouped according to initial presentation. The timing and occurrence of NW was assessed following a structured clinical examination during clinical visits.

RESULTS

Early NW (within the first 3 months of therapy) was observed in 30 out of 115 (26.1%) patients with neurological or mixed presentation and never in patients with a purely hepatic or asymptomatic presentation (0%). Late NW (after >12 months) was seen in a further 23 (20%) with neurological or mixed presentation and in 13 out of 294 (4.4%) patients with a hepatic or asymptomatic presentation. The median time from start of treatment to late NW was 20 months. Only three patients experienced NW between 3 and 12 months. NW was observed with D-penicillamine, trientine and zinc therapy and was reversible in 15/30 (50%) with early NW and in 29/36 (81%) with late NW.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we identified two peaks in NW: an early (≤3 months) treatment-associated peak and a late (>12 months of treatment) adherence-associated peak. Early paradoxical NW was attributed to treatment initiation and pre-existing neurological damage, and was not observed in those with a hepatic or asymptomatic presentation. Late NW is likely to be associated with non-adherence.

IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS

In patients with Wilson disease, defined as an excess accumulation of copper which can damage the liver, brain and other vital organs, neurological worsening can occur despite chelation therapy. The study identifies different patterns of 'early' (<3 months) vs. 'late' (>12 months) neurological worsening in relation to initiation of chelation therapy and establishes possible causes and the potential for reversibility. These data should be useful for counseling patients and for guiding the optimal management of chelation therapy.

Tackling the neurological manifestations in Wilson's disease - currently available treatment options

INTRODUCTION

Wilson's disease (WD) is a potentially treatable, inherited disorder resulting from impaired copper metabolism. Pathological copper accumulation causes a range of symptoms, most commonly hepatic and a wide spectrum of neurological symptoms including tremor, dystonia, chorea, parkinsonism, dysphagia, dysarthria, gait and posture disturbances. To reduce copper overload, anti-copper drugs are used that improve liver function and neurological symptoms in up to 85% of patients. However, in some WD patients, treatment introduction leads to neurological deterioration, and in others, neurological symptoms persist with no improvement or improvement only after several years of treatment, severely affecting the patient's quality of life.

AREAS COVERED

This review appraises the evidence on various pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies, neurosurgical procedures and liver transplantation for the management of neurological WD symptoms. The authors also discuss the neurological symptoms of WD, causes of deterioration and present symptomatic treatment options.

EXPERT OPINION

Based on case and series reports, current recommendations and expert opinion, WD treatment is focused mainly on drugs leading to negative copper body metabolism (chelators or zinc salts) and copper-restricted diet. Treatment of WD neurological symptoms should follow general recommendations of symptomatic treatment. Patients should be always considered individually, especially in the case of severe, disabling neurological symptoms.

Wilson disease: a summary of the updated AASLD Practice Guidance

Wilson disease (WD) is caused by autosomal variants affecting the ATP7B gene on chromosome 13, resulting in alterations in physiological copper homeostasis and copper accumulation. Excess copper clinically manifests in many organs, most often in the central nervous system and liver, ultimately causing cirrhosis and death. Often considered a pediatric or young adult disease, WD actually affects patients of all ages, and aging patients need to be regularly managed with long-term follow-up. Despite over a century of advances in diagnosis and treatment, WD is still associated with diagnostic challenges and considerable disability and death, in part due to delays in diagnosis and limitations in treatment. Standard-of-care treatments are considered generally effective when the diagnosis is timely but are also limited by efficacy, safety concerns, multiple daily dosing, and adherence. This expert perspective review seeks to facilitate improvements in the awareness, understanding, diagnosis, and management of WD. The objectives are to provide a full overview of WD and streamline updated diagnosis and treatment guidance, as recently published by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, in a practical way for clinical use.

Medical care of patients with Wilson disease in Germany: a multidisciplinary survey among university centers

BACKGROUND

Wilson disease (WD) is a rare, hereditary disorder of copper metabolism. Due to its variable symptoms and manifestations, diagnosis remains challenging. Affected patients must obtain lifelong medical treatment, as the disease is fatal if untreated. Patients require continuous monitoring, but little is known about the care of these patients in Germany. Therefore, we analyzed the medical care of WD patients at German university centers. We sent a questionnaire containing 20 questions to a total of 108 departments of pediatrics, neurology and gastroenterology in 36 university hospitals. Our questions referred to the characteristics of WD patients at the different sites and internal procedures regarding diagnosis, therapy and follow-up. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Sixty-three departments (58%) returned our questionnaire. In total, approximately one-third of the estimated WD patients in Germany are seen annually in the outpatient clinics of these departments (approx. 950 patients). There are only a few departments which treat patients in a multidisciplinary setting (12%). Our survey revealed that for diagnosis, 51% of all departments used an algorithm based on the Leipzig score as recommended by international guidelines. Most departments apply essential parameters recommended by WD guidelines. Routine monitoring is performed at least biannually by 84% of the departments, and standard investigations for monitoring are regularly applied. A routine family screening is performed by 84% of all departments. A reduction in medical therapy during pregnancy is recommended by 46% of the departments. Only 14% suggested that WD patients should not breastfeed. Liver transplantation (LT) due to WD is a rare but repeatedly occurring event. Most departments of gastroenterology (72%) reported at least one patient with LT within the last decade.

CONCLUSIONS

Medical care of WD patients at German university centers follows the recommendations set forth by international guidelines, but only a few centers treat significant numbers of patients. The surveillance of patients does not follow specified standards, but most departments adhere to the accepted guidelines. The formation of central units and networks in a multidisciplinary setting should be evaluated to improve the care of WD patients.

Maintenance therapy simplification using a single daily dose: A preliminary real-life feasibility study in patients with Wilson disease

BACKGROUND

Single daily dose (SDD) is a good way to improve adherence by simplifying treatment. Efficacy data concerning patients with Wilson disease (WD) taking an SDD are lacking.

AIM

To report the effectiveness of the use of SDD for the treatment of WD.

METHODS

This retrospective study included WD patients followed in the French National Network who received an SDD in maintenance phase. The treatment failure was defined as a composite criterion with the occurrence of at least one of the following criterion: death, transplantation, increase of transaminases >2xULN, hepatic decompensation, neurological aggravation, severe side effects related to treatment, and/or discontinuation of treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 26 patients received an SDD (D-penicillamine=13, trientine=8, zinc=5) after a median interval of 152 months after diagnosis. After one year, two patients had treatment failure: transaminitis in one, continuation of neurological deterioration in the other related to a poor compliance. After a median duration of 41 months on SDD, 3 other patients had treatment failure (transaminitis=2, treatment discontinuation=1). There was no death, no liver transplantation, no hepatic decompensation, and no severe side effects related to treatment during the follow-up. Moreover, transaminases and serum exchangeable copper were not significantly different 1 year post-switch and at last follow-up compared to baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

Maintenance therapy simplification through the use of an SDD could be considered in some WD patients. In this pilot study, SDD was effective in 21/26 patients (81%) without any concern regarding safety.

Nuklearmedizinische Diagnostik beim Morbus Wilson

Wilson's disease is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism and is caused by a genetic defect on chromosome 13. Nuclear medicine methods can prove the metabolic defect and contribute to the assessment of central neurological deficits.With high specificity and sensitivity, the intravenous radiocopper test enables the diagnosis to be confirmed as the basis for initiating treatment. The oral radiocopper test is used to monitor zinc treatment.[¹²³I]β-CIT-SPECT and [¹²³I]IBZM-SPECT provide functional information of the nigrostriatal system.[¹²³I]β-CIT-SPECT also allows the determination of SERT availability in the hypothalamus/brain stem as a surrogate parameter of depression.Metabolic parameters of the cortex, basal ganglia and cerebellum can be assessed by [¹⁸F]FDG-PET studies.SPECT and [¹⁸F]FDG-PET studies show significant differences between neurological and non-neurological Wilson patients. Overall, only noninvasive in vivo nuclear medicine enables a deeper insight into the pathophysiology of neurological processes in Wilson's disease.

Serum neurofilament light chain and initial severity of neurological disease predict the early neurological deterioration in Wilson's disease

Background

In Wilson’s disease (WD), early neurological deterioration after treatment initiation is associated with poor outcomes; however, data on this phenomenon are limited. Our study analysed the frequency and risk factors of early neurological deterioration in WD.

Methods

Early neurological deterioration, within 6 months from diagnosis, was defined based on the Unified Wilson’s Disease Rating Scale (UWDRS): any increase in part II or an increase of ≥ 4 in part III. In total, 61 newly diagnosed WD patients were included. UWDRS scores, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scores, copper metabolism parameters, treatment type and serum neuro-filament light chain (sNfL) concentrations at diagnosis were analysed as potential risk factors of early deterioration.

Results

Early neurological deterioration was observed in 16.3% of all WD patients; all cases of worsening occurred in the neurological phenotype (27.7%). Higher scores were seen in those who deteriorated compared with those who did not for UWDRS part II (4.3 ± 5.0 vs 2.0 ± 5.9; p < 0.05), UWDRS part III (21.5 ± 14.1 vs 9.3 ± 16.4; p < 0.01) and MRI-assessed chronic damage (3.2 ± 1.6 vs 1.4 ± 2.2; p = 0.006); all these variables indicated the initial severity of neurological disease. Pre-treatment sNfL concentrations were significantly higher in patients who deteriorated compared with those who did not (33.2 ± 23.5 vs 27.6 ± 62.7 pg/mL; p < 0.01). In univariate logistic regression amongst all patients, chronic damage MRI scores, UWDRS part III scores and sNfL concentrations predicated early deterioration. In the neurological WD, only sNFL were a significant predictor. In bivariate logistic regression amongst all patients, sNfL remained the only significant predictor of deterioration when corrected for MRI scores.

Conclusion

sNfL concentrations are a promising biomarker of the risk of early neurological deterioration in WD.

Multicentre, retrospective study to assess long-term outcomes of chelator based treatment with trientine in Wilson disease patients withdrawn from therapy with d -penicillamine

OBJECTIVES

Trientine dihydrochloride (TETA-2HCl) has been used for the treatment of Wilson disease for over 30 years. The current study was designed to systematically evaluate existing data to further define the long-term outcome of the efficacy and tolerability of TETA-2HCl in Wilson disease patients.

METHODS

Medical records of 77 Wilson disease patients were reviewed to collect data on hepatic and neurologic symptoms, copper (Cu) homeostasis and adverse events. Data were collected for 48 months after initiation of TETA-2HCl after withdrawal of D-penicillamine treatment.

RESULTS

Mean duration of TETA-2HCl treatment was 8 years (range 5 months-32.5 years). Over the course of TETA-2HCl treatment, 35% of patients had no hepatic symptoms whereas in 49.4% of patients, hepatic symptoms improved. They remained unchanged in 10.4% of patients and worsened in 5.2% of patients. No patients progressed to acute hepatic failure or necessity of a liver transplant. During TETA-2HCl treatment, 46.7% of patients had no neurologic symptoms; in 14.3% of patients, neurologic symptoms improved whereas in 36.4% of patients, they remained stable and worsened in 2.6% of patients. During the evaluation period, 12 patients discontinued TETA-2HCl treatment due to: anemia ( N = 1), inadequate hepatic response ( N = 2), switch to zinc treatment ( N = 8) and patient's decision to withdraw from treatment ( N = 1). Treatment-emergent adverse events were reported by 24.7% of the patients of which gastrointestinal disorders (9.1%) and nervous system disorders (5.2%) were most reported.

CONCLUSIONS

TETA-2HCl is well-tolerated and effective in Wilson disease patients following the withdrawal of treatment with D-penicillamine. ClinicalTrials.govIdentifier : NCT02426905.

Effect of oral zinc regimens on human hepatic copper content: a randomized intervention study

Zinc inhibits intestinal copper uptake, an effect utilized for treating Wilson’s disease (WD). We used copper-64 (⁶⁴Cu) PET/CT to examine how much four weeks of treatment with different zinc regimens reduced the hepatic ⁶⁴Cu content after oral ⁶⁴Cu administration and test if alternative regimens were noninferior to the standard regimen of zinc acetate 50 mg × 3 daily. Forty healthy persons were randomized to four different zinc protocols. The WD standard treatment zinc acetate 50 mg × 3 reduced the hepatic ⁶⁴Cu content from 26.9 ± 7.5% to 13.3 ± 5.6% of the administered ⁶⁴Cu. Zinc gluconate 50 mg × 3 was noninferior (P = 0.02) (35.8 ± 9.0% to 17.4 ± 7.5%). Zinc acetate 150 mg × 1 (33.1 ± 9.9% to 17.4 ± 7.5%) and zinc gluconate 150 mg × 1 (28.1 ± 6.7% to 22.0 ± 6.7%) were less effective. These effects were intra- and inter-individually highly variable, and 14% had no effect of any zinc regimen, which may explain disparities in zinc treatment efficacy in WD patients.

The Role of Zinc in the Treatment of Wilson’s Disease

Wilson’s disease (WD) is a hereditary disorder of copper metabolism, producing abnormally high levels of non-ceruloplasmin-bound copper, the determinant of the pathogenic process causing brain and hepatic damage and dysfunction. Although the disease is invariably fatal without medication, it is treatable and many of its adverse effects are reversible. Diagnosis is difficult due to the large range and severity of symptoms. A high index of suspicion is required as patients may have only a few of the many possible biomarkers. The genetic prevalence of ATP7B variants indicates higher rates in the population than are currently diagnosed. Treatments have evolved from chelators that reduce stored copper to zinc, which reduces the toxic levels of circulating non-ceruloplasmin-bound copper. Zinc induces intestinal metallothionein, which blocks copper absorption and increases excretion in the stools, resulting in an improvement in symptoms. Two meta-analyses and several large retrospective studies indicate that zinc is equally effective as chelators for the treatment of WD, with the advantages of a very low level of toxicity and only the minor side effect of gastric disturbance. Zinc is recommended as a first-line treatment for neurological presentations and is gaining acceptance for hepatic presentations. It is universally recommended for lifelong maintenance therapy and for presymptomatic WD.

Low Copper Diet—A Therapeutic Option for Wilson Disease?

Wilson’s disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive inherited disease in which a pathological storage of copper in various organs is the mean pathophysiological mechanism. The therapy consists of drug therapy with chelating agents or zinc. For patients, nutrition is always an important issue. The aim of this review was to determine whether there are clear recommendations for a low copper diet for WD patients, or whether the essential trace element zinc plays a role? We were able to show that some of the foods with high copper content would have to be consumed in such large quantities that this is regularly not the case. Furthermore, there are also different absorption rates depending on the copper content. A lower copper intake only prevents the re-accumulation of copper. In summary, consistent adherence to drug therapy is more important than a strict diet. Only two foods should be consistently avoided: Liver and Shellfish.

Efficacy and Safety of Two Salts of Trientine in the Treatment of Wilson’s Disease

Background: Wilson’s disease (WD) is one of the few genetic disorders that can be successfully treated with pharmacological agents. Copper-chelating agents (D-penicillamine and Trientine salts) and zinc salts have been demonstrated to be effective. There are two salts of trientine. Trientine dihydrochloride salt (TETA 2HCL) is unstable at room temperature and requires storage at 2–8 °C. Trientine tetrahydrochloride (TETA 4HCL) is a more stable salt of trientine that can be stored at room temperature. No comparative study between both of the salts of trientine has been performed to date. As the two chemical forms were available in France between 1970 and 2009, we conducted a study to evaluate their efficacy and safety profiles. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted by reviewing data from the national WD registry in France. Forty-three WD patients who received TETA 2HCL or TETA 4HCL monotherapy for at least one year until 2010 were included. The primary endpoints were hepatic and neurological outcomes. Secondary endpoints were the events leading to a discontinuation of medication. Results: Changes in medication were common, leading to the analysis of 57 treatment sequences of TETA 4HCL or TETA 2HCL. The mean duration of treatment sequence was significantly longer in the TETA 4 HCL group (12.6 years) than in the TETA 2HCL group (7.6 years) (p = 0.011). Ten patients experienced both trientine salts: eight stopped TETA 4 HCL (six had a hepatologic phenotype and two had a neurological phenotype) because this treatment was not available anymore (mean duration 7.4 years). Three of these patients already experienced TETA 2 HCL before the sequence. Two patients with a hepatologic phenotype (one had a previous sequence of TETA 4 HCL before) stopped TETA 2 HCL because of cold storage issues (mean duration 42.8 years). The total number of sequences was 57. All of the patients were clinically stable. No difference in efficacy was detected. Both treatments were well tolerated, except for a case of recurrence of lupus erythematosus-like syndrome in the TETA 2HCL group. The major reason for interruption of TETA 4HCL was due to a discontinuation in production of this salt. The reasons for stopping TETA 2HCL were mainly due to adherence issues largely attributed to the cold storage requirement. Conclusions: The two salts of trientine were effective in treating patients with WD. However, interruption of TETA 2HCL was frequent, linked to the cold storage requirement. As adherence to treatment is a key factor in the successful management of WD, physicians need to be even more vigilant in detecting adherence difficulties in patients receiving treatment with TETA 2HCL.

Investigation and management of Wilson's disease: a practical guide from the British Association for the Study of the Liver

Wilson's disease is an autosomal-recessive disorder of copper metabolism with hepatic, neurological, psychiatric, ophthalmological, haematological, renal, and rheumatological manifestations. Making a diagnosis can be challenging given that no single test can confirm or exclude the disease, and diagnostic delays are common. Treatment protocols vary and adverse effects, including paradoxical neurological worsening, can occur. In this Review, we provide a practical guide to the diagnosis of Wilson's disease. We include recommendations on indications for testing, how to interpret results, and when additional investigations are required. We also cover treatment initiation, ideally under the guidance of a specialist centre for Wilson's disease, and the principles behind long-term management. This guidance was developed by a multidisciplinary group of Wilson's disease experts formed through the British Association for the Study of the Liver. The guidance has been endorsed by the British Society of Gastroenterology and approved by the Association of British Neurologists.

The galactose elimination capacity test to monitor liver disease course in patients with Wilson's disease

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of Wilson's disease (WD) has changed radically since the introduction of medical therapy with chelators and zinc. However, there is an unmet need for methods to evaluate the long-term treatment response and the liver disease progression in order to identify treatment failures. The galactose elimination capacity test (GEC) is a physiological measure of the total metabolic capacity of the liver, and a strong predictor of long- and short-term mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis. Our aim was to investigate if the GEC test is useful for evaluation of treatment response and prediction of treatment failures in WD patients.

METHODS

We included all patients with WD in Denmark from 1992 through 2017 and retrieved data on GEC along with data on transplantation and death.

RESULTS

In total, 37 patients had completed one or more GEC tests. Of these, 31 were alive (three transplanted) and six were dead (two transplanted). A total of 24 patients had completed more than one GEC test. All 18 alive, nontransplanted patients showed improvement in GEC values following onset of treatment, except one patient, who was clinically confirmed with treatment failure. All six patients who underwent liver transplantation or died had a prior decline in their GEC. The difference in GEC development between patients alive and not transplanted and patients dead or transplanted was significant (p < .001). Index GEC values could not predict transplantation or death (p = .26).

CONCLUSION

The GEC test is a promising tool for monitoring treatment response and identifying treatment failures in patients with WD.

Comparison of the Effectiveness and Safety of d-Penicillamine and Zinc Salt Treatment for Symptomatic Wilson Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Background: Pharmacological therapy is currently the main treatment method for patients with Wilson disease (WD). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the common treatment regimens in these patients.

Methods: We conducted a systemic review and meta-analysis by searching multiple databases for studies from inception to October 2021. Outcomes of interest were the improved rate and safety of d-penicillamine and zinc salts treatment in WD patients. Two independent reviewers performed the study selection and data extraction.

Results: Sixteen studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled improved rate for all included symptomatic WD patients was 78.0% (95% CI: 70.8%–85.2%). In symptomatic hepatic WD patients, there is no difference in the treatment efficiency of d-penicillamine and zinc salts (RR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.86%–1.12%; p = 0.765). In neurological WD patients, the pooled improved rate of those who received d-penicillamine and zinc salts was 56.3% (95% CI: 37.5%–75.1%) and 80.2% (95% CI: 67.2%–93.2%), respectively. The incidence of adverse effects (RR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.20%–4.88%; p = 0.014) and neurological deterioration (RR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.31%–2.93%; p = 0.001) in all symptomatic WD patients treated with d-penicillamine was both higher than that of patients treated with zinc salts.

Conclusion: Our analysis suggests that symptomatic WD patients treated with d-penicillamine have higher incidence of adverse effects and neurological deterioration than that of zinc salts. The therapeutic effectiveness of these two regimens does not seem to be significantly different, and these results must be interpreted with caution.

Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO registration, identifier CRD 42021287126.

Chelation therapy in liver diseases of childhood: Current status and response

Chelation is the mainstay of therapy in certain pediatric liver diseases. Copper and iron related disorders require chelation. Wilson’s disease (WD), one of the common causes of cirrhosis in children is treated primarily with copper chelating agents like D-penicillamine and trientine. D-Penicillamine though widely used due its high efficacy in hepatic WD is fraught with frequent adverse effects resulting discontinuation. Trientine, an alternative drug has comparable efficacy in hepatic WD but has lower frequency of adverse effects. The role of ammonium tetra-thiomolybdate is presently experimental in hepatic WD. Indian childhood cirrhosis is related to excessive copper ingestion, rarely seen in present era. D-Penicillamine is effective in the early part of this disease with reversal of clinical status. Iron chelators are commonly used in secondary hemochromatosis of liver in hemolytic anemias. There are strict chelation protocols during bone marrow transplant. The role of iron chelation in neonatal hemochromatosis is presently not in vogue due to its poor efficacy and availability of other modalities of therapy. Hereditary hemochromatosis is rare in children and the use of iron chelators in this condition is limited.

Zinc monotherapy for young patients with oligosymptomatic Wilson disease: A single center, retrospective study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Few studies have focused on the treatment failure of zinc monotherapy for oligosymptomatic Wilson disease (WD) patients. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of zinc monotherapy in oligosymptomatic patients and to analyze the possible factors that may influence the outcome of this treatment.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of oligosymptomatic WD patients who received zinc monotherapy from the time of diagnosis. Then, the characteristics of patients who were treated with zinc monotherapy successfully and those who experienced treatment failure were investigated.

RESULTS

Forty oligosymptomatic WD patients were identified that have received zinc monotherapy as initial treatment, with a median age of 3.83 years at the time of diagnosis. 36 (90%) patients had abnormal alanine transaminase/aspartate transaminase levels at baseline. None of the patients became symptomatic during zinc monotherapy. 28 (70%, Group 1) patients were treated with zinc monotherapy successfully for a median period of 2.4 years. In Group 1, serum aminotransferase levels significantly decreased 6 and 12 months after zinc therapy compared to the baseline levels (P <  0.05). 12 (30%, Group 2) patients experienced treatment failure with zinc monotherapy due to uncontrolled serum liver enzyme levels, and d-penicillamine was combined. The baseline 24-hour urine copper levels before treatment were significantly higher in Group 2 compared to that in Group 1 (182.5 vs 90.92 μg /day, P = 0.018). Comparing the age at onset; ceruloplasmin, serum copper, ALT, and AST levels; and proportions of abdominal ultrasonography abnormality at baseline between Group 1 and 2 revealed no statistically significant differences.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that high initial 24 -h urinary copper levels may lead to treatment failure of zinc monotherapy in oligosymptomatic WD patients. It might be reasonable to follow up liver function tests more closely during zinc monotherapy and to begin combination treatment with chelators early in patients with high level of 24 -h urinary copper.

Wilson's Disease: An Update on the Diagnostic Workup and Management

Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of hepatocellular copper deposition. The diagnostic approach to patients with WD may be challenging and is based on a complex set of clinical findings that derive from patient history, physical examination, as well as laboratory and imaging testing. No single examination can unequivocally confirm or exclude the disease. Timely identification of signs and symptoms using novel biomarkers and modern diagnostic tools may help to reduce treatment delays and improve patient prognosis. The proper way of approaching WD management includes, firstly, early diagnosis and prompt treatment introduction; secondly, careful and lifelong monitoring of patient compliance and strict adherence to the treatment; and, last but not least, screening for adverse effects and evaluation of treatment efficacy. Liver transplantation is performed in about 5% of WD patients who present with acute liver failure at first disease presentation or with signs of decompensation in the course of liver cirrhosis. Increasing awareness of this rare inherited disease among health professionals, emphasizing their training to consider early signs and symptoms of the illness, and strict monitoring are vital strategies for the patient safety and efficacy of WD therapy.

Wilson's disease- management and long term outcomes

Wilson's disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder of copper metabolism leading to liver or brain injury due to accumulation of copper. Diagnosis is based on: clinical features, biochemical tests including plasma ceruloplasmin concentration, 24h urinary copper excretion, copper content in the liver, and molecular analysis. Pharmacological therapy comprises chelating agents (penicillamine, trientine) and zinc salts which seem to be very effective. Still, poor compliance is a major problem. Adolescents and patients with psychiatric disorders usually have problems with adherence to treatment. As transition is a vulnerable period transition ''training'' should start before the planned transfer, preferably already in early adolescence in cooperation between adult and pediatric clinics. Response to treatment is assessed based on physical examination, normal liver function tests and monitoring of copper metabolism markers. Liver transplantation has a well-defined role in Wilsonian acute hepatic failure according to the prognostic score. The long-term survival in WD patients seems to be very similar as for the general population if disease is early diagnosed and correctly treated. WD patients with a longer delay from diagnosis to therapy and who present with neurological and psychiatric symptoms have worse quality of life.

Pediatric Wilson's Disease: Phenotypic, Genetic Characterization and Outcome of 182 Children in France

OBJECTIVES

To describe a cohort of Wilson disease (WD) pediatric cases, and to point out the diagnostic particularities of this age group and the long-term outcome.

METHODS

Clinical data of 182 pediatric patients included in the French WD national registry from 01/03/1995 to 01/06/2019 were gathered.

RESULTS

Diagnosis of WD was made at a mean age of 10.7 ± 4.2 years (range 1-18 years). At diagnosis, 154 patients (84.6%) had hepatic manifestations, 19 (10.4%) had neurological manifestations, and 9 patients (4.9%) were asymptomatic. The p.His1069Gln mutation was the most frequently encountered (14% of patients).Neurological patients were diagnosed at least 1 year after they presented their first symptoms. At diagnosis, the median urinary copper excretion (UCE) was 4.2 μmol/24 hours (0.2-253). The first-line treatment was d-penicillamine (DP) for 131 (72%) patients, zinc salts for 24 (13%) patients, and Trientine for 17 (9%) patients. Liver transplantation was performed in 39 (21.4%) patients, for hepatic indications in 33 of 39 patients or for neurological deterioration in 6 of 39 patients, mean Unified Wilson's Disease Rating Scale of the latter went from 90 ± 23.1 before liver transplantation (LT) to 26.8 ± 14.1 (P < 0.01) after a mean follow-up of 4.3 ± 2.5 years. Overall survival rate at 20 years of follow-up was 98%, patient and transplant-free combined survival was 84% at 20 years.

CONCLUSION

Diagnosis of WD can be challenging in children, particularly at the early stages of liver disease and in case of neurological presentation; hence the support of clinical scores and genetic testing is essential. Diagnosis at early stages and proper treatment ensure excellent outcomes, subject to good long-term treatment compliance. LT is a valid option for end-stage liver disease not responding to treatment and can be discussed for selected cases of neurological deterioration.

Wilson's Disease: Facing the Challenge of Diagnosing a Rare Disease

Wilson disease (WD) is a rare disorder caused by mutations in ATP7B, which leads to the defective biliary excretion of copper. The subsequent gradual accumulation of copper in different organs produces an extremely variable clinical picture, which comprises hepatic, neurological psychiatric, ophthalmological, and other disturbances. WD has a specific treatment, so that early diagnosis is crucial to avoid disease progression and its devastating consequences. The clinical diagnosis is based on the Leipzig score, which considers clinical, histological, biochemical, and genetic data. However, even patients with an initial WD diagnosis based on a high Leipzig score may harbor other conditions that mimic the WD's phenotype (Wilson-like). Many patients are diagnosed using current available methods, but others remain in an uncertain area because of bordering ceruloplasmin levels, inconclusive genetic findings and unclear phenotypes. Currently, the available biomarkers for WD are ceruloplasmin and copper in the liver or in 24 h urine, but they are not solid enough. Therefore, the characterization of biomarkers that allow us to anticipate the evolution of the disease and the monitoring of new drugs is essential to improve its diagnosis and prognosis.

Safety profile of D-penicillamine: a comprehensive pharmacovigilance analysis by FDA adverse event reporting system

BACKGROUND

D-penicillamine (D-pen) is a copper-chelating drug and has immune-modulatory properties. D-pen is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Wilson's disease, and kidney stones (cystinuria). However, associated adverse events (AEs) of D-pen treatment are frequent and often serious. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment of the safety profile of D-pen is urgently needed.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We identified and analyzed AEs associated with D-pen between April-1970 to July-2020 from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) databases and calculated the reported odds ratio (ROR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using the disproportionality analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 9,150,234 AEs related to drugs were reported in the FAERS database, of which 542 were related to D-Pen. We report that D-pen was associated with dystonia (ROR: 20.52; 95%CI: 12.46-33.80), drug hypersensitivity (ROR: 5.42; 95%CI: 3.72-7.90), pancytopenia (ROR: 10.20; 95%CI: 5.61-18.56), joint swelling (ROR: 9.07; 95%CI: 5.51-14.94), renal-impairment (ROR: 6.68; 95%CI: 3.67-12.15), dysphagia (ROR: 5.05; 95%CI: 2.76-8.89), aggravation of condition (ROR: 4.16; 95%CI: 2.60-6.67), congestive cardiac failure (ROR: 4.04; 95%CI: 2.22-7.35), peripheral edema (ROR: 3.77; 95%CI: 2.17-6.55), tremor (ROR: 3.46; 95%CI: 2.00-6.01), pyrexia (ROR: 3.46; 95%CI: 2.00-6.01), and gait disturbance (ROR: 2.41; 95%CI: 1.29-4.52).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients taking D-pen require close monitoring of renal function, blood counts, immunity, liver, cardiac function, and neurological function. D-pen suppresses immune system which maximizes the risk of infection.

Wilson's disease: Revisiting an old friend

Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare condition caused by copper accumulation primarily in the liver and secondly in other organs, such as the central nervous system. It is a hereditary autosomal recessive disease caused by a deficiency in the ATP7B transporter. This protein facilitates the incorporation of copper into ceruloplasmin. More than 800 mutations associated with WD have been described. The onset of the disease frequently includes manifestations related to the liver (as chronic liver disease or acute liver failure) and neurological symptoms, although it can sometimes be asymptomatic. Despite it being more frequent in young people, WD has been described in all life stages. Due to its fatal prognosis, WD should be suspected in all patients with unexplained biochemical liver abnormalities or neurological or psychiatric symptoms. The diagnosis is established with a combination of clinical signs and tests, including the measurement of ceruloplasmin, urinary copper excretion, copper quantification in liver biopsy, or genetic assessment. The pharmacological therapies include chelating drugs, such as D-penicillamine or trientine, and zinc salts, which are able to change the natural history of the disease, increasing the survival of these patients. In some cases of end-stage liver disease or acute liver failure, liver transplantation must be an option to increase survival. In this narrative review, we offer an overview of WD, focusing on the importance of clinical suspicion, the correct diagnosis, and treatment.

Considerations for optimizing Wilson's disease patients' long-term follow-up

Wilson's disease is a sistemic genetic disease caused by the excessive accumulation of copper. The first and main involvement is in the liver, which can range from mild and transient elevation of transaminases to the onset of an overt cirrhosis or acute liver failure. It is known that up to 20-30% of these patients may evolve to liver cirrhosis during follow-up. In clinical practice, liver fibrosis is assessed mainly by using indirect and non-invasive tools (laboratory tests, liver elastography, ultrasound), similar to other prevalent chronic liver diseases. However, despite the fact that liver elastography is a valuable tool in general hepatology, the evidence of its usefulness and accuracy in Wilsońs disease is scarce. This review summarizes the available scientific data and their limitations in Wilson's disease.

Therapeutic strategies in Wilson disease: pathophysiology and mode of action

Wilson disease is a copper overload disease treatable with the chelators D-penicillamine and trientine to enhance urinary excretion or with zinc which predominantly inhibits absorption. By lifelong treatment a normal life expectancy and significant improvement of hepatic injury as well as neurologic manifestation is achievable. Here we evaluate the mode of action for effective therapy of Wilson disease. We postulate that there is no quantitative removal of copper from the liver possible. The therapeutic goal is the removal of toxic free copper (non-ceruloplasmin, but albumin bound copper). This is achievable by the induction of metallothionein which is accomplished by chelators and in particular by zinc. For control of therapy the option of a direct measurement of free copper would be preferable over the less reliable calculation of this fraction. A therapeutic challenge is still the full restoration of neurological deficits which can hardly be reached by the available chelators. Whether bis-choline-tetrathiomolybdate as intracellular copper chelator is an option has to be awaited. It is concluded that the goal of actual drug therapy in Wilson disease is the normalization of free copper in serum.

Combined dimercaptosuccinic acid and zinc treatment in neurological Wilson's disease patients with penicillamine-induced allergy or early neurological deterioration

The clinical data of safety and efficacy of a combined treatment with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and Zinc with 2 years’ follow-up in 60 neurological Wilson’s disease (WD) patients was retrospectively analyzed. All the patients included in the present study were newly diagnosed and initialized with D-penicillamine (DPA) treatment but were found to have either neurological deterioration or allergy, and their treatment was switched to a combined treatment of DMSA and Zinc. Fifty-one patients (85%) had the neurological symptoms improved 1 and 2 years after treatment, 7 (11.67%) experienced a stable neurological condition, and 2 (3.33%) suffered deterioration of neurological symptoms. No early neurological deterioration was observed in all patients. Twenty-five percent patients experienced mild adverse reactions which did not require a discontinuation of the DMSA and Zinc treatment. Our study confirmed the safety and efficacy of the combined DMSA and Zinc therapy as an initial and probably long-term treatment in neurological WD patients.

Copper Toxicity Is Not Just Oxidative Damage: Zinc Systems and Insight from Wilson Disease

Essential metals such as copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are important cofactors in diverse cellular processes, while metal imbalance may impact or be altered by disease state. Cu is essential for aerobic life with significant functions in oxidation-reduction catalysis. This redox reactivity requires precise intracellular handling and molecular-to-organismal levels of homeostatic control. As the central organ of Cu homeostasis in vertebrates, the liver has long been associated with Cu storage disorders including Wilson Disease (WD) (heritable human Cu toxicosis), Idiopathic Copper Toxicosis and Endemic Tyrolean Infantile Cirrhosis. Cu imbalance is also associated with chronic liver diseases that arise from hepatitis viral infection or other liver injury. The labile redox characteristic of Cu is often discussed as a primary mechanism of Cu toxicity. However, work emerging largely from the study of WD models suggests that Cu toxicity may have specific biochemical consequences that are not directly attributable to redox activity. This work reviews Cu toxicity with a focus on the liver and proposes that Cu accumulation specifically impacts Zn-dependent processes. The prospect that Cu toxicity has specific biochemical impacts that are not entirely attributable to redox may promote further inquiry into Cu toxicity in WD and other Cu-associated disorders.

Management Perspective of Wilson's Disease: Early Diagnosis and Individualized Therapy

Wilson's disease (WD) is an inherited disease caused by mutations in ATP7B and is characterized by the pathological accumulation of copper in the liver and brain. Common clinical manifestations of WD include a wide range of liver disease and neurological symptoms. In some patients, psychiatric symptoms may be the only manifestation at the time of diagnosis. The clinical features of WD are highly variable and can mimic any disease of internal medicine. Therefore, for unexplained medical diseases, the possibility of WD should not be ignored. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve the prognosis of WD patients and reduce disability and early death. Gene sequencing is becoming a valuable method to diagnose WD, and if possible, all WD patients and their siblings should be genetically sequenced. Copper chelators including D-penicillamine, trientine, and dimercaptosuccinic acid can significantly improve the liver injury and symptoms of WD patients but may have a limited effect on neurological symptoms. Zinc salts may be more appropriate for the treatment of asymptomatic patients or for the maintenance treatment of symptomatic patients. High-quality clinical trials for the drug treatment of WD are still lacking, therefore, individualized treatment options for patients are recommended. Individualized treatment can be determined based on the clinical features of the WD patients, efficacy and adverse effects of the drugs, and the experience of the physician. Liver transplantation is the only effective method to save patients with acute liver failure or with severe liver disease who fail drug treatment.

Effect of chelation therapy in pediatric Wilson's disease: Liver and endoscopic outcome

BACKGROUND

As there is paucity of exclusive literature on pediatric hepatic Wilson's disease (WD), this study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of chelation on hepatocellular function and portal hypertension in WD.

METHODS

Wilson's disease patients with ≥9 months of follow-up were evaluated for response to chelation therapy in the following categories: (a) complete remission, (b) partial remission (c) progression of disease; (d) drug toxicity. Pediatric end-stage liver disease (PELD), Nazar and New Wilson Index scores were compared. Hemodynamically stable patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (baseline and surveillance) and received prophylaxis (primary or secondary). Endoscopic outcome was assessed at follow-up.

RESULTS

Of the 111 WD children (aged 9 [3-15] years; PELD score 16 [-11 to 60]), 65 with follow-up of 3.6 (0.8-12) years on chelation (83% D-penicillamine monotherapy, 17% D-penicillamine and zinc) were analyzed. 81% had severe disease at presentation. Favorable outcome (complete and or partial remission), progression of disease and drug toxicity were seen in 71%, 29% and 10.8%, respectively. Two-thirds had esophageal varices which did not show progression. Large esophageal varices (16%) were effectively downgraded in 3 (2-6) therapeutic endoscopic sessions. Nazar score and PELD score at baseline were independent predictors of outcome with favorable correlation with each other (r = .864, P < .001). PELD cutoff 9.45 (AUC: 71%, sensitivity: 87%, specificity: 50%; P = .009) and Nazar score cut off 3.5 (AUC: 68%, sensitivity: 83%, specificity: 50%; P = .02) were associated with poor prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite severe liver disease, the majority of hepatic WD can be managed on D-penicillamine monotherapy. PELD score and Nazar score effectively determine the outcome.

The macrophage activation marker soluble CD163 is elevated and associated with liver disease phenotype in patients with Wilson's disease

BACKGROUND

Macrophages play a significant role in liver disease development and progression. The macrophage activation marker soluble (s)CD163 is associated with severity and prognosis in a number of different acute and chronic liver diseases but has been only sparsely examined in Wilson's disease (WD). We investigated sCD163 levels in patients with acute and chronic WD and hypothesized associations with liver disease phenotype and biochemical markers of liver injury.

METHODS

We investigated sCD163 in two independent cohorts of WD patients: 28 patients with fulminant WD from the US Acute Liver Failure (ALF) Study Group registry and 147 patients with chronic disease from a German WD registry. We included a control group of 19 healthy individuals. Serum sCD163 levels were measured by ELISA. Liver CD163 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

In the ALF cohort, median sCD163 was 10-fold higher than in healthy controls (14.6(2.5-30.9) vs. 1.5(1.0-2.7) mg/L, p < 0.001). In the chronic cohort, median sCD163 was 2.6(0.9-24.9) mg/L. There was no difference in sCD163 according to subgroups based on initial clinical presentation, i.e. asymptomatic, neurologic, hepatic, or mixed. Patients with cirrhosis at the time of diagnosis had higher sCD163 compared with those without cirrhosis (3.0(1.2-24.9) vs. 2.3(0.9-8.0) mg/L, p < 0.001); and both cohorts significantly lower than the ALF patients. Further, sCD163 correlated positively with ALT, AST, GGT and INR (rho = 0.27-0.53); and negatively with albumin (rho = - 0.37), (p ≤ 0.001, all). We observed immunohistochemical CD163 expression in liver tissue from ALF patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Although sCD163 is not specific for WD, it was elevated in WD patients, especially in those with ALF. Further, sCD163 was higher in patients with cirrhosis compared to patients without cirrhosis and associated with biochemical markers of liver injury and hepatocellular function. Thus, macrophage activation is evident in WD and associates with liver disease phenotype and biochemical parameters of liver disease. Our findings suggest that sCD163 may be used as a marker of liver disease severity in WD patients.

Combined sodium Dimercaptopropanesulfonate and zinc versus D-penicillamine as first-line therapy for neurological Wilson's disease

BACKGROUND

Even though recent research has achieved significant advancement in the development of therapeutic approaches for Wilson's diseases (WD), the current treatment options available for WD are still limited, especially for WD patients with neurological symptoms. This study is intended to compare the therapeutic approaches for WD patients with neurological symptoms receiving either combined sodium 2, 3-dimercapto-1-propane sulfonate (DMPS) and zinc treatment or D-penicillamine (DPA) monotherapy as first-line therapy, and identify the more effective therapeutic approach.

METHODS

The case records of 158 patients diagnosed with neurological WD were retrospectively analyzed. These patients treated with intravenous DMPS + Zinc and in combination with oral zinc as a maintenance therapy (Group 1) or DPA alone (Group 2) for 1 year. During the period of treatment, the neurological symptoms of the patients were assessed using the Global Assessment Scale (GAS) and Barthel index. The key hematological and biochemical parameters of the patients (such as the levels of aminotransferase, serum ceruloplasmin, 24-h urine copper excretion), as well as adverse effects were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

Ninety-three patients in Group 1, displayed decreased GAS scores and increased Barthel indexes consistently in comparison with the baseline (P < 0.01). Among them, 82 patients (88.2%) exhibited significant neurological improvement after 1 year, while 8 patients (8.6%) experienced neurological deterioration. Among the 65 patients in Group 2, 37 patients (58.5%) exhibited neurological improvements, while 17 patients (26.2%) experienced neurological deterioration after 1-year follow up. Six patients discontinued their treatment midway due to their exacerbating neurological symptoms. A comprehensive comparison of the effectiveness of the two courses of treatment revealed that patients in group 1 demonstrated a higher improvement ratio (P < 0.01) and lower worsening ratio of the neurological symptoms for the patients (P < 0.01) in comparison to the patients in group 2. Meanwhile, renal function, liver enzyme and blood cell counts remained stabilized in group1.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that the combined therapeutic approach of DPMS and zinc may be a preferred first-line therapy in treating the neurological symptoms of WD, in comparison to the treatment with DPA.

Recent aspects of the effects of zinc on human health

Zinc (Zn) is one of the most important essential nutrients of great public health significance. It is involved in numerous biological functions and it is considered as a multipurpose trace element, due to its capacity to bind to more than 300 enzymes and more than 2000 transcriptional factors. Its role in biochemical pathways and cellular functions, such as the response to oxidative stress, homeostasis, immune responses, DNA replication, DNA damage repair, cell cycle progression, apoptosis and aging is significant. Zn is required for the synthesis of protein and collagen, thus contributing to wound healing and a healthy skin. Metallothioneins are metal-binding proteins and they are potent scavengers of heavy metals, including Zn, and protect the organism against stress. Zn deficiency is observed almost in 17% of the global population and affects many organ systems, leading to dysfunction of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity, thus increasing the susceptibility to infection. This review gives a thorough insight into the most recent evidence on the association between Zn biochemistry and human pathologies, epigenetic processes, gut microbial composition, drug targets and nanomedicine.

Wilson Disease: An Overview and Approach to Management

Wilson's disease is one of the few preventable movement disorders in which there are therapies that modify disease progression. This disease is caused by copper overload caused by reduced copper excretion secondary to genetic mutations in the ATP7B gene. Copper overload can lead to a variety of clinical presentations, including neurologic symptoms, liver failure, and/or psychiatric manifestations. There is often a delay in diagnosis of Wilson disease, and awareness of the diagnosis and management is important because of the treatable nature of this condition. This article reviews the clinical presentation, epidemiology, genetics, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of Wilson disease.

Switching Pharmacological Treatment in Wilson Disease: Case Report and Recommendations

Background. Available treatments for Wilson disease (WD) prevent longterm complications of copper accumulation. Current anti-copper agents include zinc salts, penicillamine, and trientine. Patients with WD may switch between the agents for a number of reasons. Due to the different mechanisms of action between the copper chelators and zinc salts, transitioning could require a period of overlap and increased monitoring. There are no large studies that investigate the best transition strategies between agents. In this article, we review the treatments for WD and how to monitor for treatment efficacy. Case Summary. The patient had been diagnosed with WD for over 20 years prior to establishing care in our Hepatology Clinic. During his initial course, he was transitioned from penicillamine to zinc due to evidence suggesting penicillamine had greater adverse effects in the long term. Later, he was switched to trientine. His liver enzymes and 24-hour urine copper were monitored. During these years, he intermittently had some financial hardship, requiring him to be on penicillamine rather than trientine. He also had developed acute kidney injury. Overall, his liver disease remained under control and he never had signs of decompensated cirrhosis, but had fluctuations of liver enzymes over the years. Conclusion. Anti-copper treatment for WD has to be tailored to medication side effects profile, patient's chronic and emerging comorbidities, as well as costs. Transitioning regimens is often challenging, and it requires closer monitoring, with no predictors of response.

Comparative effectiveness of common therapies for Wilson disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled studies

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Wilson disease (WD) is a rare disorder of copper metabolism. The objective of this systematic review was to determine the comparative effectiveness and safety of common treatments of WD.

METHODS

We included WD patients of any age or stage and the study drugs D-penicillamine, zinc salts, trientine and tetrathiomolybdate. The control could be placebo, no treatment or any other treatment. We included prospective, retrospective, randomized and non-randomized studies. We searched Medline and Embase via Ovid, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and screened reference lists of included articles. Where possible, we applied random-effects meta-analyses.

RESULTS

The 23 included studies reported on 2055 patients and mostly compared D-penicillamine to no treatment, zinc, trientine or succimer. One study compared tetrathiomolybdate and trientine. Post-decoppering maintenance therapy was addressed in one study only. Eleven of 23 studies were of low quality. When compared to no treatment, D-penicillamine was associated with a lower mortality (odds ratio 0.013; 95% CI 0.0010 to 0.17). When compared to zinc, there was no association with mortality (odds ratio 0.73; 95% CI 0.16 to 3.40) and prevention or amelioration of clinical symptoms (odds ratio 0.84; 95% CI 0.48 to 1.48). Conversely, D-penicillamine may have a greater impact on side effects and treatment discontinuations than zinc.

CONCLUSIONS

There are some indications that zinc is safer than D-penicillamine therapy while being similarly effective in preventing or reducing hepatic or neurological WD symptoms. Study quality was low warranting cautious interpretation of our findings.

Zinc Maintenance Therapy for Wilson Disease: A Comparison Between Zinc Acetate and Alternative Zinc Preparations

We evaluate Wilson disease (WD) treatment with zinc acetate (U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved) and alternative zinc salts. Studies examining zinc therapy in WD are few, and data on alternative zinc salts are limited. We describe one of the largest recent studies of zinc therapy in WD. First, we conducted a single‐center retrospective review of 59 patients with WD (age 6‐88 years, 32 female patients) treated with zinc (50‐150 mg) for 0.8 to 52 years (median, 26 years); most were on prior chelation therapy (n = 39). Second, we developed a survey to explore patients' zinc therapy experience. Primary endpoints were alamine aminotransferase (ALT) and urine copper excretion (µg/24 hours). Urine copper was categorized as low <25 μg (possible overtreatment), target 25‐100 μg, or elevated >100 μg (possible noncompliance or treatment failure). The target range was reached in 81% of patients on zinc acetate, 73% on zinc gluconate, and 57% on alternative zinc. Low urine copper was not associated with a high ALT. ALT was normal in 77% of patients with target urine copper but only in 16% with urine copper >100 µg. ALT elevations were not significantly different between zinc salts (Kruskal‐Wallis, P = 0.26). Our survey demonstrated the mean age of starting zinc was 26.8 years (3.5‐65 years); most were treated with zinc acetate (45%) and zinc gluconate (42%). Before zinc treatment, 45% of patients were symptomatic; the majority of patients (80%) were asymptomatic on zinc. Gastrointestinal side effects were the predominant reason for changing zinc salts (38%), but most reported no side effects on current zinc therapy (67%). Conclusion: Effective treatment with zinc is possible in many patients with WD. The potential for treatment failure suggests close monitoring and consideration of alternative treatments are paramount for those without both a normal serum ALT and appropriate urine copper excretion.

We describe one of the largest recent studies of Zn therapy in WD and include data on alternative Zn salts which is lacking thus far. In clinical practice, due to issues of intolerance and increased cost of WD medications, many patients have gravitated towards alternative Zn salts, some purchasing non‐prescription Zn over‐the‐counter. An understanding of the potential utility of different Zn preparations and required monitoring will provide benefit in expanding and optimizing treatment options for patients with WD.

Clinical management of Wilson disease

The availability of effective therapies distinguishes Wilson disease (WD) from other inherited neurometabolic diseases. The cause of hepatic, neurologic or psychiatric symptoms is copper overload and subsequent copper toxicity. Diagnosed WD patients require life-long pharmacologic therapy that is focused on reversal of copper overload with maintenance of a long-term negative copper balance. This is associated with the rapid control of free or non-ceruloplasmin bound copper that is mostly responsible for acute cytotoxic effects. Currently available therapies can be divided into chelators and zinc salts. They have different mechanisms of action and the onset of efficacy that influences their selection in acute and chronic stages of therapy. We review the use of D-penicillamine and trientine for chelation therapies, including the required monitoring of therapy for its efficacy and possible overtreatment with iatrogenic copper deficiency. Additionally, the use of zinc salts is also discussed, including a possibility of its use for the initial therapy in an acute stage of the disease. Supportive and symptomatic therapies for liver failure and neuropsychiatric symptoms are also reviewed.

Wilson disease-treatment perspectives

Wilson disease (WD) is a genetic disorder caused by pathological tissue copper accumulation with secondary damage of affected organs (mainly, but not limited to, the liver and brain). The main clinical symptoms of WD are, in concordance with the pathogenesis, hepatic and/or neuropsychiatric. Current treatment options for WD, based on drugs leading to negative copper body balance like chelators or zinc salts, were introduced more than 40 years ago and are generally effective in the majority of WD cases if used lifelong. However, especially in neurological patients, treatment may lead to neurological deterioration, which is often irreversible. Further, almost 50% of neurologically affected WD patients present with persistent neurological deficits despite the use of anti-copper treatment. In addition, up to 30% of patients treated with the widely used drug, d-penicillamine, present with adverse events related to treatment, which often leads to treatment discontinuation. Finally, almost 25% of WD patients do not adhere with anti-copper treatment, partially due to drug-related adverse events and complex treatment regimens (3 times daily, before meals, etc.). These limitations with current treatments have led to the search for other WD treatment possibilities. Currently, research is mainly focused on: (I) new agents with better safety profiles and less neurological deterioration properties compared with traditional chelators, e.g., tetrathiomolybdate salts or central nervous system-penetrable trientine, with the aim to provide more effective copper removal from brain tissue; (II) other non-chelating drugs that lead to removal of copper from cells [e.g., methanobactin (currently in preclinical studies)]; (III) cell and gene therapy. In this article, current research on future treatments for WD is reviewed.

Current anti-copper therapies in management of Wilson disease

In Wilson disease (WD) severity of disease can vary widely, depending on time of diagnosis. Early treatment can prevent the development of symptoms in patients. In all patients, lifelong medical treatment is indicated. Currently available medical regimens include the copper chelators for example D-penicillamine (DPA) or trientine (TETA), acting to increase copper excretion and zinc salts (ZS), which reduce copper uptake. In this chapter, we discuss considerations regarding choice of drug and safety limitations.