Oral zinc sulphate as long-term treatment in Wilson's disease (hepatolenticular degeneration).

Clinical amelioration, clearance of Kayser-Fleischer rings and rising of ceruloplasmin concentration are described in a patient with the classical findings of Wilson's disease. These changes occurred during a 14-year period in which he used oral zinc sulphate (three times daily 200 mg) as the only medication to influence copper metabolism. Before starting this long-term zinc sulphate therapy he had used D-penicillamine (three times daily 300 mg) for only 6 weeks. The antagonistic action of zinc sulphate on copper resorption with amelioration of the clinical condition has been described before in this patient in 1961 by Schouwink. The patient had used at that time oral zinc sulphate for approximately 1.5 years. No changes in Kayser-Fleischer rings and ceruloplasmin levels were mentioned. Our findings suggest that oral zinc sulphate may not only prevent storage of copper in the tissues but may also contribute to the mobilization and excretion of deposits of copper.