Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026

Dried Blood Spots - Preparing and Processing for Use in Immunoassays and in Molecular Techniques
Published on: March 13, 2015
Wilson's disease: diagnostic difficulties in the patient with chronic hepatitis and hypoceruloplasminemia
Abstract:
Wilson's disease presents as a classical hereditary syndrome of clinical and biochemical abnormalities. Life-long treatment with copper-chelating agents may dramatically alter the subsequent course and outcome. Hence, considerable attention has been drawn to early recognition and treatment. Since the presentation of Wilson's disease may simulate chronic active hepatitis of unknown etiology, it has been emphasized that the diagnosis of the genetic disorder should be suspected and excluded in this clinical setting. In this report we describe the difficulties encountered in the evaluation of a patient with non-Wilsonian chronic active hepatitis and low serum ceruloplasmin levels. This case illustrates that the distinction between the Wilson's disease homozygote and the hypoceruloplasminemic patient with idiopathic chronic active hepatitis may be difficult to establish and requires a critical evaluation of data to avoid diagnostic pitfalls.
Related Concept Videos
Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder
Cirrhosis is characterized by the scarring of hepatic lobules in the liver, which are replaced by fibrous tissue, affecting the liver's normal functioning. NAFLD, on the other hand, is caused by an excessive build-up of fat in the liver, not related to...
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test
Chronic Kidney Disease II: Clinical Manifestations
Cirrhosis I: Introduction
Jaundice

