Wilson's disease

noun Wil·son's disease \ ˈwil-sənz- \

Definition of Wilson's disease

: a hereditary disease that is characterized by excessive accumulation of copper in the body (as in the liver or brain) due to abnormal copper metabolism, is determined by an autosomal recessive gene, and is marked especially by liver dysfunction and neurologic disease

Origin and Etymology of wilson's disease

Samuel A. K. Wilson †1937 English neurologist

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1915

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

Wilson's disease

noun Wil·son's disease \ ˈwil-sənz- \

medical Definition of Wilson's disease

: a genetic disease that is characterized by the accumulation of copper in the body (as in the liver, brain, or cornea) due to abnormal copper metabolism associated with ceruloplasmin deficiency, that is inherited as an autosomal recessive gene, and that is marked especially by liver dysfunction and disease and neurologic or psychiatric symptoms (as tremors, slowness of speech, inappropriate behaviors, or personality changes) — called also hepatolenticular degeneration; see kayser-fleischer ring

Biographical Note for wilson's disease

Wilson, Samuel Alexander Kinnier (1877–1937), British neurologist. Wilson enjoyed long-term associations with King's College Hospital and the National Hospital for the Paralyzed and Epileptic, both in London. His neurological studies covered such diverse topics as epilepsy, narcolepsy, speech disorders, apraxia, and pathological laughing and crying. In 1912 he published a monograph on progressive lenticular degeneration, which is now known as Wilson's disease. He was the first to detect the relationship between liver disease and putaminous destruction.