Genetically Confirmed Wilson Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study From Bahrain

Introduction Wilson disease (WD) is a rare inherited autosomal recessive disorder caused by a mutation in the ATP7B gene. This mutation affects copper metabolism, leading to the accumulation of copper in the liver, brain, cornea, and other tissues. If not treated, WD can lead to significant morbidities. This study aimed to display the prevalence, clinical presentations, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of WD in Bahrain. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with WD in the Department of Pediatrics, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, from March 2002 to July 2024. The diagnosis of WD was based on clinical presentations, laboratory markers, radiological imaging, and genetic testing. Results Up to July 2024, eight patients from four families were diagnosed with WD in Bahrain. Accordingly, the prevalence of WD was 1.7 patients per 100,000 (0.002%). Parental consanguinity was noted in all families. Males were equal to females (n=4, 50% each). The mean age at presentation was 13 ± 3.6 years, ranging from 9 to 21 years. Three patients (37.5%) presented with hepatic manifestations, two (25%) with neurological manifestations, and three (37.5%) were detected upon family screening. Kayser Fleischer (KF) rings were found in two (25%) patients via slit lamp examination. Of the seven patients with available data, five (71.4%) had low serum copper, six (85.7%) had low serum ceruloplasmin, and six (85.7%) had high 24-hour urinary copper. Genetic testing was positive for the ATP7B gene variants in all patients, of which four members of one family had a novel mutation. Abdominal ultrasound revealed hepatic cirrhosis in four (50%) patients, increased hepatic echogenicity in five (62.5%), splenomegaly in three (37.5%) patients, and ascites in one (12.5%) patient. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was positive in three (50%) out of six patients. All patients received copper chelating therapy. Six (75%) patients survived; one of them underwent living-related liver transplantation due to rapidly progressive neurological symptoms. Two (25%) patients died due to hepatic failure and encephalopathy. Conclusion WD is a rare disorder in Bahrain. This study presents eight patients with WD from four families. Five patients were symptomatic at presentation, while three were diagnosed upon genetic family screening. Hepatic manifestations were the most common presentation, followed by behavioral changes and neurological symptoms. Two patients had KF rings, while three had classical brain MRI findings. Genetic testing served as a confirmatory diagnostic tool that revealed a diversity of variants causing the disease, of which one variant was a novel mutation. Despite oral chelating therapy, morbidity and mortality remain high in patients with WD.