Alterations of lipid metabolism in Wilson disease

Aims: Wilson disease is an inherited disorder of copper metabolism, that leads to copper accumulation in the liver and other tissues of the body, most remarkable the central nervous system. Interesting findings in Wilson disease animal models (ATP7b–/– and LEC rats) are a changed lipid metabolism with a decrease in the amount of triglycerides and cholesterol in serum. However, in human Wilson disease patients lipid metabolism has not been investigated in larger cohorts so far. Patients and methods: This study concerns 251 patients examined at the university hospital Heidelberg. Patients were analyzed on routine…