•No single test is
diagnostic by itself, and a group of tests needs to be done
•Laboratory results in patients with WD include the
following:
vSerum ceruloplasmin levels lower than 20 mg/dL(but
5-40%of patients have normal ceruloplasmin)
vLow total serum copper levels(but are seldom diagnostic,
The levels may be low, normal or high in WD)
vIncreased urinary copper excretion: >100 mcg/d (increased excretion after penicillamine
dose is more diagnostic)
vHepatic copper is the single best predictive marker for
WD and considered the gold standard, with values usually above 250 mcg/g dry
weight of liver ( this facility is
seldom available in country like ours)
vA complete Kayser–Fleischer (KF) ring indicates
long-standing disease and severe Cu overload.
•