Abstract
Introduction: Wilson's disease (WD) is one of the few genetic disorders that can be successfully treated if diagnosed early and treated correctly. Currently, two groups of drugs are used in WD treatment: chelators or zinc salts.
Both treatments lead to negative copper body balance, reversing the pathological accumulation of copper in tissues, and removing excess copper from the body. Liver transplantation is established as a treatment option in the case of acute liver failure or progressive liver disease resistant to treatment.
However, due to the large number of adverse drug reactions, the need for long-life treatment and the persistence of symptoms, there is a need for new, more effective and safer therapies to alleviate WD symptoms. Areas covered: This article discusses available treatment recommendations (anticopper and liver transplantation) and reviews the possibilities of symptomatic WD treatment as well as available research regarding future WD treatments.
Expert opinion: Existing recommendations concerning WD treatment as well as liver transplantation are consistent and up-to-date, irrespective of the progress made in the search for new treatment modalities. Additionally, several case reports, series reports, and reviews encourage the symptomatic treatment of WD clinical symptoms, taking into account their severity and impact on quality of life.