OBJECTIVES: I. Establish the safety and efficacy of extended maintenance zinc therapy in 200 patients with Wilson disease.
II. Establish further the role of zinc in the prophylactic treatment of presymptomatic patients by increasing the current cohort from 80 to at least 100 patients.
III. Establish further the role of zinc therapy in pregnant patients with Wilson disease.
IV. Establish further the role of zinc therapy in children with Wilson disease.
PROTOCOL OUTLINE:
Patients receive copper regulation therapy with zinc acetate: an existing cohort on maintenance therapy will be followed for long-term data collection; presymptomatic patients are treated prophylactically; and pregnant patients are evaluated for fetal outcome. All patients are evaluated for copper balance, clinical control, and toxicity.
PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA: Wilson disease Presymptomatic, pregnant, and children 16 years or younger patients eligible Patient age: Any age, including children