Wilson disease is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism that can cause fatal neurological and hepatic disease if not diagnosed and treated. The youngest child with normal liver function reported so far is an 8-mo-old Japanese boy with low ceruloplasmin levels, and the youngest child with elevated aminotransferase ever reported so far is a 9-mo-old Korean boy with confirmed by genetic testing. Here we report an 8-mo-old Chinese boy presented with elevated liver enzymes, and low serum ceruloplasmin level. Genetic analysis of ATP7B gene detected two heterozygous disease causing mutations (c.2621C>T/p.A874V and c.3809A>G/p.N1270S), and parental origins were determined. Persistent elevation of serum aminotransferase in this infant was normalized after zinc therapy. To our best knowledge, this is the youngest patient with elevated liver enzymes ever reported worldwide. We hope that this will raise awareness among pediatricians, leading to earlier diagnosis, timely treatment, and better clinical outcome.

Wilson disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism caused by ATP7B gene mutation. It can cause fatal damage to the liver and brain tissues if not diagnosed and treated earlier. Age at disease onset or appearance of clinical symptoms can vary markedly among patients[1]. The youngest child with normal liver function reported so far is an 8-mo-old Japanese boy with a low ceruloplasmin level[2]. In terms of liver function abnormality, the youngest child ever reported so far is a 9-mo-old Korean boy with elevated aminotransferase confirmed by genetic testing[3]. Here we report an 8-mo-old Chinese boy who presented with elevated liver enzymes, and the diagnosis of WD was confirmed after ATP7B gene sequencing.

This boy first discovered to have abnormal liver function after routine blood testing during a diarrhea admission at 8-mo of age. After persistent elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, WD was suspected. Serum ceruloplasmin level was found to be extremely low, and disease causing mutations were found on ATP7B gene sequencing. The patient was given oral zinc therapy with 10 mg of elemental zinc 3 times daily. At 14 mo of age, liver function significantly improved but ALT and AST levels were still above normal range. Persistent normalization was achieved after zinc gluconate dosage was increased to 20 mg/3-times-a-day (Table 1). Clinical examinations were negative for hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, K-F ring, and sunflower cataract. Other causes of serum aminotransferase elevation, such as viral hepatitis, muscle disorders, and hemolytic diseases were ruled out with proper investigations.

The ATP7B gene sequencing detected two heterozygous mutations (p.A874V and p.N1270S) that have been reported to cause WD in the Wilson Disease Mutation Database (http://www.wilsondisease.med.ualberta.ca/database.asp), and predicted to be disease causing by MutationTaster (http://www.mutationtaster.org) (Figure 1). Sequencing also revealed 4 other heterozygous non-synonymous allels and 1 allel in the non-coding region, mutationtaster predicted them to be single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Both parents were screened for disease causing mutations and the SNP in the non-coding region. Father was heterozygous for the mutation of c.3809A>G (p.N1270S), and mother was heterozygous for c.2621C>T (p.A874V), and c.3903+6C>T (Table 2).

Open in New Tab   Full Size Figure   Download Figure

Figure 1 ATP7B gene sequencing detected two heterozygous mutations (p. A874V and p.N1270S) that have been reported to cause Wilson disease in the Wilson Disease Mutation Database (http://www.wilsondisease.med.ualberta.ca/database.asp), and predicted to be disease causing by Mutation Taster (http://www.mutationtaster.org).

At the age of 23 mo, the patient was slightly undernourished with a weight of 11.5 kg (below 50^th percentile by The WHO Child Growth Standards: http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/en/) and a height of 83 cm (below 15^th percentile). At the last follow-up when the patient was 35 mo of age, liver function test was normal. Linear growth had significantly improved with weight for age reaching above the 50^th percentile (14.5 kg), and height for age reaching above the 15^th percentile (93 cm).

Shimizu et al[2] reported an 8-mo-old Japanese boy found to have low level of ceruloplasmin after mass screening. This child had normal liver function test results, and normal urinary copper excretion. However, the ATP7B gene sequencing detected a homozygous frame-shift mutation (c.2302insC). Kim et al[3] reported a 9-mo-old male infant with elevated aminotransferase detected after routine blood testing for acute diarrhea. The serum ceruloplasmin level was below normal range, but the 24-h urinary copper excretion was normal. Compound heterozygous mutations were found with genetic analysis (known disease causing mutation of p.G1186S, and novel frameshift mutation of c.4006delA that resulted a stop codon).

The reason why this patient had such an early disease onset could be genetic, environmental, or combination of both. Two known disease causing mutations were detected in this patient, along with 5 other non-synonymous SNPs plus 1 SNP in the non-coding region. Non-synonymous SNPs might not be disease causing when appeared alone, but it is unknown whether it can contribute to disease process when appeared in combination with other disease causing mutations, or with other non-synonymous SNPs. Over consumption of copper could be considered as one of the causes of early WD onset. An epidemiologic study of serum copper levels in 8 provinces of China revealed that serum copper levels in people from eastern China were significantly higher than that of middle and western China[4]. Authors also conducted a survey proving that more frequent sea food consumption led to significantly higher copper levels in the body. Dietary and environmental factors may have played a role since coastal regions in eastern China are more industrialized, and people living there consumes more sea food than the people from other parts of the country. There is also evidence that long-term high copper intake in healthy men led to significantly higher copper retention in the body, and homeostatic regulation was not sufficient to maintain a normal copper absorption[5]. Our patient came from the coastal Shandong Province in eastern China, and potentially higher exposure to dietary and environmental copper, coupled with potentially severe disruption of copper homeostasis caused by ATP7B gene mutation plus SNPs may have led to enough copper accumulation, and caused liver damage at this young age. However, further studies need to be done in order to elucidate the complex interplay among genotype, phenotype, and environmental factors (such as diet and pollution).

In conclusion, an elevation of serum aminotransferase during infancy should always prompt pediatricians to exclude WD with genetic testing if other causes are negative.