D-penicillamine and plasmapheresis in acute liver failure secondary to Wilson's disease
Rodríguez Fariña, E.; Tremosa Llurba, G.; Xiol Quingles, X.; Lores Obradors, A.; Castellote Alonso, J.; Gornals Soler, J.B.; López Núñez, C.
Revista Espanola de Enfermedades Digestivas Organo Oficial de la Sociedad Espanola de Patologia Digestiva 95(1): 60
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 1130-0108 PMID: 12760731 Document Number: 559720
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's disease with recovery following medical treatment. The clinical picture and low serum transaminase and alkaline phosphatase levels gave us a clue to suspect Wilson's 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.