Wilson's disease

noun

Wil·​son's disease ˈwil-sənz- 

: a hereditary disease that is characterized by excessive accumulation of copper in the body (as in the liver or brain) due to abnormal copper metabolism, is determined by an autosomal recessive gene, and is marked especially by liver dysfunction and neurologic disease

Examples of Wilson's disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Zinc also decreases the absorption of penicillamine, a medication used to decrease copper levels in Wilson's disease. —Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 26 Sep. 2024

Several conditions are also risk factors for acute liver failure, Johns Hopkins adds, including hepatitis, Wilson's disease, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and herpes simplex virus. —Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 5 Sep. 2023

Drugs that interact with zinc include certain antibiotics, penicillamine used for Wilson's disease and rheumatoid arthritis and the cancer treatment cisplatin. —Lauren Corona, chicagotribune.com, 23 Feb. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Samuel A. K. Wilson †1937 English neurologist

First Known Use

circa 1915, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

Wilson's disease

noun

Wil·​son's disease ˈwil-sənz- 

: a genetic disease that is characterized by the accumulation of copper in the body (as in the liver, brain, or cornea) due to abnormal copper metabolism associated with ceruloplasmin deficiency, that is inherited as an autosomal recessive gene, and that is marked especially by liver dysfunction and disease and neurologic or psychiatric symptoms (as tremors, slowness of speech, inappropriate behaviors, or personality changes)

called also hepatolenticular degeneration

see kayser-fleischer ring