[Oral zinc in Wilson disease--an alternative to D-penicillamine]

Recently Brewer et al. reported the possibility of an oral zinc therapy in Wilson's Disease. We treated a 19 years old patient with decompensated liver cirrhosis due to Wilson's disease with zinc-sulphate. D-Penicillamine had to be withdrawn since proteinuria occurred under treatment. After the discontinuation of D-Penicillamine an increase of serum copper almost up to normal range was observed; concomitantly urinary copper elimination decreased. Under oral zinc sulphate therapy (145 mg/day) a drop of serum copper level was achieved and liver function improved: serum albumin, gamma globulins and prothrombin time reached normal values. The patient did not complain any side effects during oral zinc sulphate therapy. Oral zinc therapy in Wilson's Disease may be regarded as an alternative to D-Penicillamine treatment when this drug has to be discontinued because of side effects.