Presentation of epilepsy in a patient with Wilson's disease and developmental venous anomaly [venous angioma] in the brain

ABSTRACT

Intracranial developmental venous anomalies [DVAs], also called venous angiomas, and Wilson's disease are both considered rare disorders with varying degrees of neurologic and systemic manifestations; yet the coexistence of the two disorders is considered extremely rare, bearing in mind the low prevalence of each disorder. Epilepsy is a recognised presentation in these disorders and will be the focus of discussion in our report of a 21-year-old male patient who, based on a clinical examination and laboratory and neuroimaging results, was diagnosed with both Wilson's disease and DVA. He presented initially at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman with tremors and writing difficulties in the right hand followed by the development of epilepsy, and was treated medically by de-coppering and antiepileptic medications. We also present a brief literature review of both disorders, their association with epilepsy, and treatment options. Family screening for patients with Wilson's disease is pivotal in preventing unfavourable outcomes: