[Wilson's disease in the German Democratic Republic. I. Genetics and epidemiology]

The experiences of the central institution for Wilson's disease are reported. On the basis of 126 patients who come from 90 clans with 92 families the authors adopt a definite attitude to the problem of genetics, epidemiology and genetic family consultation. The unexceptional validity of the autosomal-recessive hereditary transmission may be confirmed. An incidence of 2.9/100,000 is assumed, from which a gene frequency of 0.53% and a frequency of heterozygotes of 1.05% can be estimated. The questions of the genetic background of polyphenia are discussed.