Summary

Wilson’s disease is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of hepatic copper transport leading to hepatic but also to highly variable neurological symptoms with basal ganglia and cerebellar manifestation. Symptoms, signs and results of investigations can overlap with those of other central nervous system disorders such as multiple sclerosis and sometimes delay diagnosis.

We report on a 38-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with a hepatic form of Wilson’s disease at age 12 and with multiple sclerosis at age 38. Intravenous radio copper test confirmed the diagnosis of Wilson’s disease. Multiple sclerosis was diagnosed after occurrence of transient sensory disturbances in both legs, based on typical changes on MRI over the course of 2 years, in the cerebrospinal fluid and in multimodal evoked potentials.

Although Wilson’s disease and multiple sclerosis are known as distinct diseases with a completely different pathophysiology, symptoms and results of evoked potentials overlap, and they share a common historic background. Similarities and differences of both disorders are discussed.