Acute hemolytic crisis with fulminant hepatic failure as the first manifestation of Wilson's disease: a case report

J Korean Med Sci. 1998 Oct;13(5):548-50. doi: 10.3346/jkms.1998.13.5.548.

Abstract

We report a 27-year-old woman who developed Coombs' negative hemolytic anemia and fulminant hepatic failure as the initial manifestation of Wilson's disease. Unmeasurably low level of serum alkaline phosphatase provided a clue to the diagnosis of Wilson's disease. The diagnosis was established with the presence of Kayser-Fleischer ring, decreased serum ceruloplasmin level, and elevated urine and serum copper levels. In spite of repeated plasmapheresis, she died of multiorgan failure on the fifth hospital day.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Anemia, Hemolytic / complications*
  • Coombs Test
  • Female
  • Hepatic Encephalopathy / complications*
  • Hepatic Encephalopathy / physiopathology
  • Hepatolenticular Degeneration / complications*
  • Hepatolenticular Degeneration / physiopathology
  • Humans