Difference between revisions of "Team:Oxford/Description"
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Wilson’s disease is a genetic disorder which causes the body to accumulate too much copper. This causes liver failure and brain damage in affected patients. Wilson’s is a rare disease because it affects about 1 in 30,000 people (250k worldwide). The drugs currently used to treat Wilson’s are copper-binders, but there are two major problems with these: | Wilson’s disease is a genetic disorder which causes the body to accumulate too much copper. This causes liver failure and brain damage in affected patients. Wilson’s is a rare disease because it affects about 1 in 30,000 people (250k worldwide). The drugs currently used to treat Wilson’s are copper-binders, but there are two major problems with these: | ||
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<strong>2) Administration:</strong> tablets need to be taken before every meal for the rest of the patient’s life | <strong>2) Administration:</strong> tablets need to be taken before every meal for the rest of the patient’s life | ||
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Revision as of 11:31, 27 June 2016
Wilson’s disease is a genetic disorder which causes the body to accumulate too much copper. This causes liver failure and brain damage in affected patients. Wilson’s is a rare disease because it affects about 1 in 30,000 people (250k worldwide). The drugs currently used to treat Wilson’s are copper-binders, but there are two major problems with these:
1) Toxicity: these drugs have severe side effects, and treatment course often has to stop
2) Administration: tablets need to be taken before every meal for the rest of the patient’s life
