[Hemolytic anemia and liver failure -- a manifestation of Wilson's disease (author's transl)]

Wilson's disease is a rare inherited disorder of copper metabolism causing severe damage to vital organs. Effective therapy with partial or complete remissions is possible when diagnosis is established early. The first manifestation usually occurs in childhood or early adult life with signs of liver failure and/or hemolytic anemia (stage II), as in the presented case, or with symptoms of extrapyramidal cerebral disease (stage IV). Wilson's disease should be ruled out in all patients below the age of 30 years presenting with liver disease, Coombs-negative, non spherocytic hemolytic anemia or neuropsychiatric disorders of unknown etiology.