Hepatolenticular degeneration-induced hepatic dysfunction with extremely atypical clinical manifestations: a Case Report

Hepatolenticular Degeneration (HLD) is a rare condition caused by a genetic copper metabolism disorder and a basal ganglia-dominated degenerative brain disease. Its characteristic clinical features include progressive extrapyramidal symptoms, psychiatric manifestations, cirrhosis, renal impairment, and the Kayser-Fleischer ring. Furthermore, its key diagnostic bases include the ceruloplasmin level, copper oxidase activity, trace copper in the human body, brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and genetic testing. Here, we present an HLD case with atypical clinical manifestations. A 43-year-old male HLD patient presented to our hospital with normal copper oxidase activity and serum copper levels, as well as results of ceruloplasmin testing, slit-lamp examination, and histopathological examination of the liver, which showed no typical manifestations. On the other hand, the genetic testing results showed new mutation sites. To improve our clinical understanding of HLD and reduce the probability of misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis, we discussed and clarified the clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, and diagnosis and treatment of the disease, all based on existing literature.