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It is highly likely your brother is suffering from Wilson's disease. It is inherited disorder in which impairment of copper excretion leads to copper accumulation in
liver cells. As liver cells die copper leaks into the blood and accumulates
kidney,
cornea, and brain. Copper accumulation in the brain causes personality changes,
depression or
psychosis. Patients may also have tremors, movement disorders, liver diseases. Your brother should avoid eating food with high copper content such as liver, chocolate, dried fruit, sesame seeds, nuts, mushrooms, shellfish and drinking purified water. To reduce the toxic effects of copper, chelating agents (D-
penicillamine, trientine) are used. These agents bind copper and facilitate its excretion.
Zinc sulphate (taken orally) prevents uptake of dietary copper and decreases copper level in the blood.
You should consult with your Doctor for the prescription of these medications. He also needs to be monitored for copper levels, urinary copper excretion,
ceruloplasmin level and liver function. I would advice all the family members to get screened for the Wilson's disease.
I hope the above information will be helpful for you. Please, feel free to ask me if there is anything else you need to know.
Thank you,
Malik Amonov MD