Copper is found in small amounts in the body and is needed for several normal functions.
Normally any excess copper is processed by the liver and excreted in bile. In the inherited birth defect known as Wilson's disease, copper builds up and progressively damages the liver and other organs. Cause An abnormal gene on chromosome 13 produces a faulty molecule, one that normally controls the distribution of copper within the body. The disease is recessive. Symptoms you are likely to notice The first symptoms are usually like those of viral hepatitis, including fatigue and weakness, nausea and loss of appetite, jaundice , and abdominal swelling and pain.