Question

The Wilson's disease is a rare inherited disorder due to accumulation in brain, liver, and other vital organs of:

• A. Iodine
• B. Copper
• C. Iron
• D. Calcium

Hint:

Wilson's disease involves copper buildup due to a defect in copper transport. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent serious organ damage.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Wilson's disease is a rare inherited disorder characterized by the accumulation of copper in vital organs such as the brain, liver, and kidneys. This accumulation leads to various neurological and hepatic symptoms.

Answer 2

Wilson's disease is a genetic condition where a metal builds up to toxic levels in the body, and pinpointing which metal is central to answering this question. Checking each option:

1. Iodine: Iodine accumulation or deficiency is linked to thyroid conditions, such as goitre or thyrotoxicosis, not to inherited metal storage disorders affecting the liver and brain.
2. Copper: Wilson's disease is caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene, which normally helps transport copper out of liver cells and into bile for excretion. When this transporter fails, copper cannot be cleared properly and instead builds up first in the liver, then spills over into the brain, kidneys, and eyes, causing the neurological and hepatic damage seen in the disease.
3. Iron: Excess iron accumulation causes a different inherited disorder called hemochromatosis, which mainly damages the liver, heart, and pancreas rather than following the copper pathway seen in Wilson's disease.
4. Calcium: Abnormal calcium levels are linked to bone and parathyroid disorders, or to conditions like hypercalcemia, and have no role in the genetic mechanism behind Wilson's disease.

The defect in Wilson's disease is specifically in a copper-transporting protein, so the metal that fails to be cleared and instead accumulates in vital organs is copper.

So the correct answer is Copper.