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Wilson's disease presenting with an unusual cough
Nathan E Crone1, H A Jinnah, Stephen G Reich
1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.
Summary
A persistent, dry cough in a young man was unexplained by standard tests. Neurological symptoms later revealed Wilson's disease (WD), suggesting the cough was a rare respiratory dyskinesia presentation of WD.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pulmonology
- Genetics
Background:
- Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare genetic disorder of copper metabolism.
- Typical WD symptoms involve liver, neurological, and psychiatric issues.
- Unexplained chronic cough is not a recognized WD symptom.
Observation:
- A 26-year-old man presented with a persistent, nonproductive cough.
- Initial pulmonary and otolaryngology evaluations did not identify the cause.
- The patient later developed neurological signs.
Findings:
- Subsequent neurological manifestations led to a diagnosis of Wilson's disease.
- The cough's characteristics suggested a form of respiratory dyskinesia.
- This represents a previously undocumented presentation of WD.
Implications:
- Highlights the diverse and atypical neurological presentations of Wilson's disease.
- Suggests considering WD in cases of unexplained respiratory dyskinesia.
- Warrants further investigation into the neurological underpinnings of WD-related symptoms.