The liver begins to retain copper at birth and it may take from 3 and up to 30 years before you can see any symptoms. Wilson disease is sometimes difficult to diagnose, and can be easily misdiagnosed. Other symptoms of Wilsons disease could include a peculiar type of tremor in the upper extremities, slowness of movement and changes in temperament. Persons may become exceptionally argumentative, overly emotional or may experience a decrease in mental capabilities. During adolescence, anxiety or depression can be misinterpreted as normal adjustment difficulties, rather than indications of a potentially fatal disease.
Muscular control can deteriorate until the patient is bedridden.
The presence of both psychiatric and physical symptoms makes Wilson disease difficult to diagnose. Individuals between 3 and 45 years of age who show signs of any of the previously mentioned symptoms should be screened for Wilson disease. Confirmation of the diagnosis can be made with a simple blood test measuring serum copper and ceruloplasmin, a blood protein that transports copper. Another diagnostic test for this disease is the presence of Kayser-Fleischer rings which show an accumulation of copper around the cornea that is sometimes visible to the naked eye. The gene responsible for Wilson disease was recently discovered.