An exceptional family with three consecutive generations affected by wilson disease

Abstract

Wilson disease (WD) is a disorder of copper transport that can cause hepatic and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Because of its broad spectrum of clinical manifestations that can present in almost any decade of life, a high degree of clinical suspicion is needed for diagnosis. We present an exceptional family with three consecutive generations affected by WD. Autosomal recessive disorders are not typically present in consecutive generations, but this can occur, particularly when carrier frequencies are as high as in WD. This point is of critical importance in counseling families affected by WD. This case also highlights the importance of genetic testing in confirming the diagnosis of WD, particularly when there is a positive family history. To our knowledge, this is the first report of WD in three consecutive generations.