[Ophthalmic manifestations of Wilson's disease]

To investigate the ophthalmic manifestations of Wilson's disease (WD).

In this nonrandomized retrospective case series, fifty-two WD patients were investigated retrospectively, based on the family history, clinical signs and the laboratory test Patients were divided into 4 groups: asymptomatic group, only with hepatic disorders, only with neurological disorders and with both hepatic and neurological disorders group.

Thirty two males and twenty females were studied. The ratio of male to female was 1.6:1.0. The mean age was (20 +/- 1) years, ranged from 4 to 53 years. The majority (78.8%) of patients belonged to younger age groups (10-30 years). The family history showed members with WD in 14 patients (26.9%), probable WD in 3 patients (5.8%). Out of 52 patients, 2 asymptomatic patients (3.8%) were detected by family screening, 12 patients (23.1%) only had hepatic disease, 11 patients (21.2%) only had neurological disorders and 27 patients (51.9%) had both hepatic and neurological disorders. Among 45 patients (86.5%) with Kayser-Fleischer (K-F) ring, 1 patient was asymptomatic, 7 patients had hepatic disease, 11 had neurological disorders and 26 had both hepatic and neurological disorders. One patient (1.9%) was presented with sunflower cataract. Fifty one patients (98.1%) had low serum ceruloplasmin levels and high urinary copper excretion.

K-F ring is a common and characteristic manifestation of WD. This is often found in patients with neurological disorders.