Wilson's disease masquerading as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

BACKGROUND: Wilson's disease is one of the most common hereditary causes of unclear hepatopathy. PATIENT & METHOD: A 34-year old male patient with a history of hyperlipidemia was admitted with symptoms of abdominal pain and slight hematuria. Abnormal liver function tests, ultrasound reports and liver biopsy were suggestive of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The patient received preliminary treatment for NASH. However, on subsequent follow-up, NASH remained unresolved and liver histology showed fibrosis progression from fibrosis stage 1 to stage 3. RESULTS: Biochemical tests revealed that the levels of serum ceruloplasmin were decreased (7mg/dl) while the urinary excretion of copper was found to be increased (174.2 μg/day). Wilson's disease was confirmed by diagnostic mutation analysis involving Direct Sequencing. Heterogeneity in the patient's ATP7B gene confirmed Wilson's disease. Administration of D-penicillamine resulted in a decrease in fat deposition in the liver and no further progression in fibrosis after 10 months. CONCLUSION: Adult patient presenting NASH as first symptoms need to be examined for Wilson's disease and other metabolic conditions affecting the liver, prior to initiation of treatment.