Acute Liver Failure from Wilson’s Disease in a Five-Year-Old Child

Abstract

A five-year-old child presented with acute liver failure with jaundice, hemolysis, ascites, encephalopathy and coagulopathy. A diagnosis of fulminant Wilson's disease was made on the basis of elevated serum and urinary copper, and the simultaneous diagnosis of Wilson's disease in an older sibling. Despite supportive therapy, liver function remained precarious and the patient underwent a successful orthotopic liver transplant. This is one of the youngest children reported with fulminant liver failure from Wilson's disease and underlines the need to entertain the diagnosis in children presenting with liver failure even at this early age.